Jose Mourinho ready to exchange Diego Llorente documents for Leeds United transfer
Leeds United defender Diego Llorente could join Roma as early as next Monday, with the documents ready to exchange to facilitate another loan move to the club he spent the end of last season with, according to Gazzetta dello Sport [4 July, page 9].
The Spanish defender is set to move to Roma on a loan deal, with an obligation to buy for £4.3million upon reaching 50% of games played in Italy next season. Llorente has been said to have cut some of the bonuses from his contract to help the move go through smoothly.
With documents ready to exchange, the deal could go through soon as Jose Mourinho looks to get one of his key targets through the door and Leeds look to get his wages off the books to free space for incoming players.
He’s leaving on a cut-price deal, but Leeds needed to get it done
Llorente was brought to Leeds for £17million in 2020 following their promotion to the Premier League, and now following their exit, he looks set to depart for just £4.3million in a massive financial loss to Leeds United.
This loss was necessary however, as the club needed to shift him and his wages out of the door as well as his clear desire to leave and join Roma and Mourinho, with whom he spent the second half of last season. Roma would never have been able to afford close to what Leeds paid for the player three years ago.
This move will enable Leeds United to free up some transfer funds, with Llorente’s reported £30,000 per week wages [Capology] now off the books and ready to be applied elsewhere as the club look set for a squad overhaul ahead of next season.
Leeds will need to strengthen in defence next season, with Robin Koch also set to leave the club on loan.
In other Leeds United news, Sky Sports are reporting a manager is in Leeds today ahead of his appointment.