Leeds United will need to start selling players before new signings can be brought to the club, including players who spent last season out on loan following relegation from the Premier League.
Adam Armstrong’s goal for Southampton in the play-off final almost two weeks ago has now hindered Leeds’ ability to spend money in the transfer market. The club currently owe £190 million in outstanding credit from player purchases in recent years and £73 million of this is due at the end of June. The board will need to begin offloading players before any acquisitions can be made as a result of missing out on promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds United Given Green Light Over Long-Term Transfer Pursuit
One player who has been made available for sale is defender Diego Llorente who has been on loan at Italian giants AS Roma for the past 18 months where he made 54 appearances for the Giallorossi in all competitions under the legendary manager Jose Mourinho and later Daniele De Rossi.
According to Corriere dello Sport, via MOT Leeds News, Leeds United are keen to sell the Spanish centre-back on a permanent basis. However, Roma are only looking to re-sign Llorente on yet another loan deal. Furthermore, the Italian outlet are reporting that the West Yorkshire outfit could look to recoup just £2.9 million of the £18 million they spent on Llorente back in 2020, although he still has a market value of £11 million, as per FotMob’s player valuation.
Roma are going through difficult financial problems at the moment and missing out on qualification to the UEFA Champions League will not have helped the club’s cause. As a result, the hierarchy at the Stadio Olimpico are unwilling to pay more than the lowly £2.9 million.
Writer’s View
Leeds United are set to make a heavy loss on Llorente. The Spaniard signed a new long-term deal with the club back in December 2022 before moving to Roma just a few weeks later which makes this decision even more peculiar.
The club spent £18 million on him four years ago and now may only get 16% of that money back should he leave for £2.9 million which is just another reminder of the damage caused under Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta.
