Leeds’ Diego Llorente set for Roma loan move - The Athletic 30/1/23
By Phil Hay
Leeds United defender Diego Llorente is set to sign for Roma
on loan — just weeks after agreeing a new contract at Elland Road.
Llorente, 29, is in Italy to finalise a temporary move which
could see the Serie A side take him permanently in the summer.
Leeds want a permanent obligation to buy clause as part of
the deal, although an option has also been under discussion.
If activated, a full-time move would see Leeds recoup the
£18million they paid for Llorente when they signed him from Real Sociedad in
2020.
Llorente put pen to paper on a new deal at Elland Road as
recently as December 23, extending his terms to 2026.
Leeds negotiated the extended terms to protect his value
with Llorente’s previous contract due to expire in 2024 but the recent signing
of Max Wober has made the Spain international surplus to requirements.
Wober arrived from RB Salzburg earlier in this window and
despite Leeds recruiting him as an option at left-back, a number of his
appearances to date have been as a left-sided centre-back — the same position
as Llorente.
Leeds are also in the process of signing another central
defender, Portuguese 18-year-old Diogo Monteiro, from Servette in Switzerland.
Monteiro has arrived in England and is preparing to undergo
a medical as Leeds look to finalise his switch before tomorrow’s deadline.
