'Negotiations underway' as Leeds United man edges towards €5m exit — YEP 14/6/24

-

By Will Jackson

Negotiations are reportedly underway as Roma look to secure the permanent signing of Diego Llorente from Leeds United. Llorente has spent the last 18 months on loan with the Italian outfit after opting to leave Elland Road in January 2023.

However, the Spaniard's latest loan with the club has come to an end and there has been some debate about what his next month could be. Initially the expectation was that Llorente would eventually make the permanent move to Roma, but recent reports seemed to cast doubt on that notion by suggesting the club could look to promote from within rather than shell out the cash needed to secure the defender's services.

A fresh report from Il Tempo, via Voce Giallo Rossa, though, claims that Roma have now opened talks with Leeds to purchase Llorente. With the summer transfer window now open, a deal could be expected to progress relatively quickly with a fee of €5m being touted by the newspaper.

Llorente is said to be keen on making the move, too, with the 30-year-old having no intention of returning to Elland Road to see out the two remaining years on his contract. As such, the transfer seems to be a deal that suits all parties this summer.

The centre-back joined the Whites back in 2020 with Leeds paying a reported £18m to Real Sociedad for his services. He had to wait to make his debut for the club due to a groin issue and it's fair to say that injuries got the best of him during his first season with the club under Marcelo Bielsa.

Llorente played much more of a consistent role in his second season as Leeds battled against Premier League relegation, but a run of poor form and mistakes saw him lose his spot in the Leeds side under Jesse Marsch and that led to his eventual exit after two and a half years. He made 59 appearances for the club in that time with four goals coming along the way.

His time with Roma seems to have been a lot more fruitful with Llorente featuring in the 2023 Europa League final against Sevilla before making 41 appearances for the club last season, playing key roles under Jose Mourinho and Daniele De Rossi. Unfortunately, he couldn't help the club into the Champions League spots this season.

Writing on his Instagram page earlier this month, Llorente said: "It's time to look back and evaluate. We can't be happy because we had the team to go beyond and we were very close to achieving great goals.

"However, it was not an easy season either and the team, together with the fans, overcame very difficult moments and we left everything on the field. We fought and suffered until the end. Thank you for your support in every game. You guys have been incredible. Off days of rest... and waiting."

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more