YouTuber Conor McGilligan has been left buzzing after the news that Leeds United defender Diego Llorente is set to leave the club.
What’s the word?
As per Phil Hay in The Athletic, the Whites are set to loan their Spanish defender to Serie A side Roma for the remainder of the season before the January window shuts.
Indeed, the player is supposedly in Italy now to finalise the deal which will include the option – and potentially an even obligation – to buy for £18m in the summer.
In reaction to this latest transfer development, McGilligan couldn’t hide his excitement while speaking about it all on the One Leeds Fan Channel, saying it was an “exquisite” bit of business by Leeds.
He said: “Diego Llorente – I’ve got a big grin on my face, everybody – it looks like he is Roma-bound. Now, this is arguably an exquisite piece of business by Leeds United.
“It looks like Leeds are pushing for an obligation. It’s going to be a loan fee initially, but it looks like Leeds are pushing for an obligation for Roma to pay us £18m at the back end of the window.
“It’s quite staggering that we’ve managed to recoup that business for that sort of player.”
Are you happy to see Diego Llorente leave?
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Great deal
The defender arrived from Real Sociedad back in 2020 for £18m and he has only just signed a new contract with Leeds that was supposed to keep him tied to the club until the summer of 2026.
That new deal does go some way to explaining why the Whites may be able to get a decent transfer fee for the player but if Roma stump up the full £18m that certainly will be a remarkable bit of business.
After all, he’s not impressed at all this season. Indeed, Llorente last started a Premier League game in October and has lost his last three games in that competition, conceding 10 goals across those appearances (starting two of the matches and coming off the bench in one)
With that in mind, it’s little wonder McGilligan is so happy with the transfer fee being touted for the player. Of course, it’s not agreed upon just yet and the loan may be sorted without the obligation fee.
If it is included in the deal, however, Leeds may well end up laughing all the way to the bank.
