In the winter market, Leeds United allowed Diego Llorente to join AS Roma on a loan deal with an option to buy set at €18m.
The centre-back has made nine appearances and the Serie A side have lost only two of those fixtures.
Forza Roma state the Leeds owned player has ‘offered technical and tactical guarantees’ when called upon by José Mourinho. The Giallorossi were thinking about retaining the 29-year-old before he picked up a muscle injury.
With regards to the Spaniard’s future, it’s stated he’s set to return to the Premier League side because the €18m buying option is ‘completely out of the question’ for the Italian club. That doesn’t mean a deal couldn’t be carried out in the summer.
It’s ‘not ruled out’ that Roma chief Tiago Pinto will start fresh negotiations with Leeds after June 30th. The Whites have one game left to avoid being relegated. They are 19th in the table, two points behind 17th placed Everton.
The ‘economic dynamics of the deal’ for the defender could change if the English club were to drop to the Championship.
Llorente has a ‘clear desire’, and ‘dreams’ to continue with Mourinho’s side, who have made it to the Europa League final.
If they beat Sevilla in the final, with Llorente as a starter, the Roma owners could ‘think of completing’ a deal for him. This would only be possible if there’s cooperation from Leeds.
