Speaking in Friday’s press conference, Jesse Marsch was asked if Leeds United looked at replacing Diego Llorente after his move to AS Roma – suggesting that the form of Junior Firpo and Diogo Monteiro‘s potential is enough.
Llorente, 29, moved to Roma on deadline day in a loan-to-buy deal. It is expected that Llorente, who has formed a reunion with Jose Mourinho – the man who brought him in at Real Madrid – will strike a permanent move to Rome.
Leeds are said to have considered the possibility of replacing Llorente. Manchester United outcast Axel Tuanzebe was a possibility, according to The Athletic, but Leeds chose not to bring him in. He went to Stoke City instead.
Asked about the thinking behind Llorente’s move and whether Leeds looked at a replacement, Marsch said that it was a consideration. But, the form of Firpo – and the potential of new recruit Monteiro – saw Leeds choose not to.
“Junior is in a really good way, another option we never really had. Bringing in Diogo, he could be ready for some bigger challenges in a couple months. We decided that we were happy with what we have,” Marsch said on Friday.
Marsch asked if Leeds looked at replacing Llorente; Firpo and Monteiro
The form of Firpo in recent games has been impressive, starring against Cardiff City. He scored against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup, getting on the end of a breathtaking assist from Patrick Bamford to open his Leeds account.
His form means that Leeds could be willing to use £13m Firpo on the left, opening up another centre-back option in Pascal Struijk. Monteiro meanwhile, joined from Servette. Marsch thinks in a couple of months he could be used.
But to begin with, the Portuguese defender will be playing for the club’s U21 side. If he can impress at that level then Leeds may be tempted to bring him in if needed, as a replacement for Germany defender Robin Koch.
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