Diego Llorente might soon be joining AS Roma on a permanent basis from Leeds United.
After making an impression while on loan in the Italian capital during the second half of the 2022–2023 season, Llorente is currently in the midst of a season-long loan agreement.
Roma had the option to buy Llorente outright for about £18 million in the summer, but the cost was thought to be too high, so the two teams went back to the drawing board for a different loan arrangement.
Although the two clubs had discussed an option or obligation to buy, it was reported at the time that they had agreed to just a straight loan.
However, Metropolitan Magazine claims that Roma is required to pay just £4.2 million for Llorente as long as he participates in 50% of the team’s games this season.
Llorente is having success at Roma.
Llorente has been a regular player for Jose Mourinho this season due to an injury to Chris Smalling; therefore, “it won’t take long” for the Spaniard’s move to become permanent.
In addition to starting 11 of Roma’s 14 Serie A games—including the last five—Llorente has started four of the team’s five Europa League games.
AS Roma vs. US Sassuolo – Serie A TIM
Llorente is reported to have performed well for Roma so far this season, with the exception of some subpar defense against Inter Milan alongside fellow Leeds loanee Rasmus Kristsensen.
Even though Leeds had to pay Real Sociedad £4.3 million to sign Llorente back in 2020, it’s still a good wage to have him off the books at Elland Road.
He has no chance of ever playing for Leeds again, and it appears that he has settled in at Roma, so signing a long-term contract there makes sense.
