Leeds transfer news: Bielsa signing can leave for £12m loss amid talks

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AS Roma general manager Tiago Pinto met Leeds United in London this Thursday over the transfer of Diego Llorente. The Whites are ready to sell the defender for a big loss.

That is according to Corriere dello Sport, which now reports that Roma owner Dan Friedkin is ready to back Jose Mourinho by securing a return to Serie A for Llorente. The Portuguese tactician greatly appreciates the 29-year-old following his spell on loan secured in January.

Pinto travelled to London this week to hold talks with Leeds’ hierarchy regarding Llorente’s return in the summer transfer window. The Giallorossi leader had hoped the Whites would consider permitting another loan transfer. But Elland Road chiefs scoffed at the suggestion.

How much do Leeds want from Roma for Llorente’s transfer?

Despite Leeds enduring relegation from the Premier League into the Championship for the 2023/24 season, the Whites have little interest in letting Llorente secure another loan deal. But the West Yorkshire natives recognise they have a strong need to reduce their wage bill.

So, while they opposed a loan deal, Leeds informed Pinto that Roma can secure Llorente’s permanent transfer for €7-8m (£6-7.5m). Yet the Giallorossi must first bide their time and generate further capital in the transfer window. Friedkin has not given Pinto a large budget.

Leeds’ asking price of only €7-8m (£6-7.5m) for Llorente would represent a huge loss on his transfer from Real Sociedad. The Whites paid the La Liga outfit £18m in September 2020 to improve their backline under Marcelo Bielsa. Yet he may now leave for a possible £12m hit.

Llorente wants to secure his return to the Stadio Olimpico

The Elland Road natives’ asking price also represents a huge reduction on the option to buy Roma secured in January. Leeds agreed to give Mourinho’s squad an €18m (£15.5m) option to retain the Spaniard, per TuttoMercatoWEB, which noted interest from Villarreal in April.

A move from Leeds to Roma in the summer transfer sales has been firm in Llorente’s heart for months, though. Calciomercato noted in April that the Spaniard had fallen in love with the Giallorossi and wants to stay. Yet, even then, it also added that Pinto would seek a discount.