Tens of millions may have been committed on Max Wober, Georginio Rutter and Weston McKennie (in the summer) and stolen the main headlines, but the Leeds United cherry on January’s cake may just be an exit. Less than six weeks after many fans were left scratching their heads over Diego Llorente’s contract extension, the centre-back is out the door.
Until his nadir at Brentford in September, when fit, the Spain international has generally proven a regular starter for the Whites since his arrival in September 2020. And yet, despite the faith of his head coaches, the terraces have found it hard to trust him in defence.
The logic of giving an inconsistent defender a contract extension which would take him to the eve of his 33rd birthday was lost on many last month. Of all the players heading for June 2024 contract expiries, Llorente was a long way down the list of priorities for extension.
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The redeeming feature had been the protection it put on Llorente’s value for a transfer perhaps this summer or the year after. Victor Orta has moved even quicker than that and arranged for his exit in the next available window.
Not only have Leeds got Roma to pay 100 per cent of the Spaniard’s salary, but it looks like all, if not most, of their September 2020 fee to Real Sociedad will be recouped when the deal becomes permanent in the summer. Financially, after 28 months of, at best, mixed performances, it’s a stellar deal for the Whites.
The one fly in the ointment, which Leeds may be able to avoid with some luck, is the level of cover left in that backline. The Whites addressed a key weakness on the left side with Wober’s signature, but Llorente’s exit would drop them back down to seven recognised senior options across four berths.
Yes, there is versatility in Luke Ayling at centre-back, Robin Koch at right-back, Pascal Struijk at left-back and Wober at centre-back, but two or three concurrent injuries and Jesse Marsch’s bench starts looking very young. Diogo Monteiro was, of course, added at the start of deadline day, but dispatches from Switzerland would suggest the 18-year-old needs time before being ready for the blood and thunder of the Premier League.
Junior Firpo’s nascent renaissance seems to be a key factor in this Llorente decision. While he has not been exposed to several consecutive weeks of league action, the Dominican has impressed in his run of FA Cup starts under Marsch.
There is hope, if needed, Firpo can man the fort at left-back, which crucially frees up one or both of Struijk and Wober to cover central defence. Time will tell how Llorente’s exit impacts Leeds for the remainder of this season, but once they get to the summer and bank his transfer fee they are in a very good place to go and get an upgrade.
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