Leeds transfer news: Roma agree loan deal to sign ‘magic’ Elland Road star

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AS Roma have reportedly reached an agreement with Leeds United to sign defender Diego Llorente on loan, with the deal including an option to buy for Jose Mourinho’s side.

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Serie A giants have reached a swift agreement with Leeds to sign the former Real Sociedad defender on an ‘expensive’ loan with the option to buy in the summer transfer window, with Llorente expected to travel to Italy soon.

With Leeds signing Maximilian Wober from RB Salzburg at the start of the window, there was a small chance that a defender could have left this month, however, nobody would have tipped Llorente to depart for Roma, with the centre-back signing a new contract with the Whites in December.

Lauded as ‘magic’ by Marc Roca, the 29-year-old has been a regular for Leeds ever since their return to the Premier League having been signed by Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, though it now appears that Llorente’s time at Elland Road is coming to an end with the defender set to join Roma.

Indeed, Mourinho’s side have endured an interesting season having recruited big in the summer on the likes of Paulo Dybala, Nemanja Matic and Zeki Celik, and Llorente would be yet another impressive signing for the Roman club, especially with Chris Smalling’s future up in the air.

With Roma also in Europe, the prospect of playing continental football is one that Llorente likely couldn’t reject, with the Giallorossi currently in contention for a top-four spot in the Serie A standings following Juventus’ 15-point deduction earlier this month.

Leeds could soon regret allowing Llorente to sign for Roma on loan

Leeds’ defensive issues have been a major problem this season, with Jesse Marsch managing one of the leakiest clubs in the Premier League as the American coach looks to keep the Whites in the Premier League. And allowing Llorente to sign for Roma on loan could prove to be a mistake.

Whilst the Spaniard hasn’t been at his best this season, Llorente has still been a regular for Leeds ever since their return to the Premier League, and whilst the signing of Wober and the pending incoming of Weston McKennie will shore up the backline, letting the 29-year-old to leave might be fatal for the Whites in their bid for Premier League survival.