Over the past few weeks, the Italian media have regularly discussed the possibility of Leeds United’s Diego Llorente returning to AS Roma after spending the last 18 months on loan with them.
Earlier claims had indicated the Serie A side have held talks with the Whites over buying the 30-year-old. Two days ago, Corriere dello Sport stated they have put his redemption on hold.
Il Tempo, relayed by Forza Roma say ‘all that is missing’ for the Leeds player’s return is the ‘decisive lunge’ from the Giallorossi, but they haven’t taken this step so far.
They suggest Roma sporting director Florent Ghisolfi could take advantage of Leeds’ failure to secure promotion back to the Premier League to sign the Spaniard on another loan deal.
This won’t he favoured by the player as he is ‘pushing’ for a permanent transfer to the Italian club.
Thursday’s edition of Corriere della Sera says Ghisolfi and Roma are working to get rid of players who won’t be part of their plans next season. This includes defenders Rick Karsdorp, Marash Kumbulla and Chris Smalling.
Kumbulla and Karsdorp earn €3.3m and €4m per year gross respectively, and their exits would lighten Roma’s wage bill.
They are finding it difficult to sell 24-year-old Albanian. The report claims there’s a risk of Kumbulla staying at the club, and in return ‘preventing’ Llorente’s return to Roma.
