Diego Llorente’s Roma loan deal has an obligation to buy, thus he will be permanently leaving Leeds United, according to Il Messaggero.
On May 10, the outlet’s website stated that the Spaniard, who has appeared in 50% of the games during his second season in the Italian capital, will pay the Serie A team €5 million [£4.29 million].
The 30-year-old, though, might then be sent back out on loan to a third team as Daniele De Rossi attempts to make changes to the team that Jose Mourinho left in place earlier this season.
Llorente spent the second half of the previous season with Roma before returning there in the summer. This season, he has made 41 appearances overall.
Before the transfer market opens, is Leeds United’s fate sealed?
Llorente was supposed to leave Roma permanently at the end of his initial loan, but he chose not to. Despite this, he has been actively participating this season, and since his departure last summer was agreed upon, it appears that his second chance will go through.
Given that CEO Angus Kinnear had told the Square Ball on September 7 that the defender was being paid £6m at Elland Road, or roughly £115,000 per week, if his departure is finalized, it should help the club’s financial status.
Having dropped into the play-offs thanks to a disastrous collapse in form at the end of a largely-excellent season the club face the prospect of missing out on an immediate return to the Premier League and a need to cut costs for a prolonged stay in the second tier
From a Whites standpoint, it is therefore the proper decision to shift Llorente’s enormous salary and receive a moderate transfer fee for a player who long since appeared to have no future at Leeds United.
However, with individuals returning, such as Rasmus Kristensen, choices will still need to be made regarding players who, for whatever reason, decided to leave after relegation only to have their loans not go as planned.
If Daniel Farke can lead Leeds United back to the top tier from here, he will have a lot more ease in his position overall, but he will need to change the team’s terrible play-off record.
