Leeds United defender Diego Llorente expected to rejoin AS Roma

Serie A side AS Roma are expected to sign Leeds United defender Diego Llorente, who was deemed surplus to requirements by Jesse Marsch.

Llorente, 29, was sent out on loan to Jose Mourinho’s side in January with an option to buy rumoured to be priced around £18 million.

That option was not mandatory and although the Italian side look set to sign the Spaniard, they aren’t willing to pay that much.

Despite starting just seven times, reports in Di Marzio suggest that the club were suitably impressed with his performances.

The centre-back also played 134 minutes of football in the Europa League this season.

He was often thought of as Leeds’ most reliable defender during his first few months at Elland Road, but his stock plummeted this season.

It remains to be seen whether Roma can leverage Leeds’ need to sell players or if they’ll agree to take Llorente on loan for another season.

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