Leeds United hours away from new Diego Llorente transfer agreement after update
Diego Llorente may only be a Leeds United player for a few more hours with the club on the brink of agreeing on a transfer to Real Betis, according to Estadio Deportivo.
The Spanish outlet reported on 1 July that having already agreed contractual terms with the defender, Betis are hoping to finalise a transfer fee with the Whites imminently.
Betis signed Whites loanee Marc Roca permanently last week for £3.8million and had hoped to pay the same for Llorente [Diario del Sevilla, 27 June].
Leeds in turn had demanded £5.1million, but an agreement for £4.25million could reportedly be reached shortly, allowing Llorente to depart LS11 [Samuel Silva, 27 June].
Leeds United continuing transfer clear-out this summer
Of the several players in line to return to the club this summer following loan spells away last season, Llorente looked the most likely to never be seen in the white shirt again [Roma News, 18 June].
While players like Roca and the returning Brenden Aaronson were quick to depart on loan deals this time last year, Llorente was already in Rome, having headed to the Stadio Olimpico the proceeding January.
Unlike Rasmus Kristensen, who joined Llorente in the Italian capital last July, it looked as if the Spaniard would become a Roma player permanently having impressed for Daniele De Rossi’s side last season [Corriere dello Sport, 28 May].
However, Roma reneging on a transfer fee has opened the door for Betis to add Llorente to their ranks alongside Roca while paying the Peacocks a fee which will ease their profit and sustainability concerns.
The Whites would have hoped to get this transfer over the line before 30 June, but although it’s crossed over into July, Daniel Farke’s side will be more than happy to move on a player who few thought would ever walk out at Elland Road again.
In other Leeds news, there’s hope that Archie Gray’s potential transfer to Tottenham could see an Elland Road favourite move the other way.
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