Roma are keen to turn the loan of Diego Llorente into a permanent switch this summer according to reports in Italy, but they are only willing to do so for a fee of around £13m – and should still be a no-brainer for Leeds United.
Llorente, 29, finally won his first Serie A start for Roma since joining the club on a loan-to-buy deal from the Whites in January. Leeds sanctioned a move despite handing the Spain star a new contract in December, until June 2026.
Llorente has since been forced to watch from the sidelines. Roma play a back three under Jose Mourinho, but Chris Smalling, Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez are all ahead of him in the pecking order. But, Ibanez was suspended.
So, Llorente came into the side on Sunday and helped Roma keep a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Sampdoria. Even Mourinho was impressed with Llorente’s display. Now, AS Roma Live say Roma do actually want to keep Llorente.
The report states that there is a permanent clause in the deal worth £15.8m. But that Roma are unwilling to go that high. Indeed, director of football Tiago Pinto wants a fee to be £13m or less, to sign Llorente permanently at Roma.
£13m Llorente fee to join Roma should still be a no-brainer for Leeds
Now of course, Leeds spent £18m to land Llorente from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2020. A player that many felt was a bit of a coup to land at Leeds. A player with Spain caps, that had come through the Real Madrid academy.
But, Llorente has only played 59 times for Leeds in two and a half years. Injury and a lack of momentum has seen Robin Koch overtake him. Leeds need to admit that while it looked a good signing, there is no way back for him.
If the Whites can arrange a deal for £13m – even though it is a £5m loss on their initial outlay – it is a brilliant bit of business by Victor Orta and the Leeds board. If Roma are willing to pay £13m, then Leeds should bite their hand off.
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