Report: 29-year-old’s Leeds exit could become permanent for just £4.3 million

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Diego Llorente’s loan move from Leeds United to Roma could become permanent if certain appearance clauses are met.

That is according to Gianluca Di Marzio, who reports fresh negotiations between the two clubs took place yesterday, and the obligation to buy could be just £4.3 million.

Llorente is one of two Leeds defenders on the verge of a move to the Stadio Olimpico, with Rasmus Kristensen also set to follow.

The 29-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Roma and impressed sufficiently in his 12 appearances for Jose Mourinho to want him back, but not for the originally agreed £18 million option-to-buy.

Instead, if this second deal does become permanent next summer, Leeds could get just £4.3 million for the Spaniard, a loss of well over £10 million from what they paid Real Sociedad in the summer of 2020.

Llorente’s loan deal could include obligation to buy if clauses are met

With Roma seemingly on a tight budget, this sort of deal feels like it is the best Leeds are going to get for Llorente.

After the signing of Evan Ndicka from Eintracht Frankfurt, it is unlikely Llorente will be going in as first choice at Roma but for some sort of obligation is good business from Leeds.

The fee may not necessarily be as high as it could be, but Roma have clearly played on the fact Leeds are desperate to get him off the books.

Just getting him off the wage bill is important for Leeds this summer and they can use that money generated towards signing a replacement, with Nat Phillips of Liverpool a reported target.

Liverpool could demand as much as £10 million for Leeds to sign Phillips and so they will need to bring in all the funds they can in order to reinvest significantly.