Exits from Leeds United will be just as key a factor in next season’s success as incomings across this summer transfer window. As Nick Hammond quietly gets his feet under the table at Elland Road he will be presented with a vast list of players with their futures up in the air.
While there are wants and needs he must pursue in pulling together a promotion-capable squad for whoever the next head coach will be, he also needs to clear the decks. There are a lot of players who are either earning too much money, generating sizeable transfer bids or simply lacking in the fight needed for second-tier football.
They must be axed in the way which benefits Leeds most. Diego Llorente is one such senior face on the wage bill likely to be deemed expendable this summer.
Llorente, who will turn 30 in August, only signed a new contract at Elland Road in December which tied him to the club until 2026. However, the Spain international was then loaned out less than six weeks later to Roma, with an option for the Italian outfit to take him permanently this summer for £18m.
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Jose Mourinho’s side have not taken up that option, but reports in Italy suggest an appetite remains for Llorente to return to Stadio Olimpico in this transfer window. Whether they want to do an outright permanent switch or a loan deal with a more affordable option remains to be seen.
Corriere dello Sport and Gianluca Di Marzio have each reported Roma were impressed by Llorente, despite the Spaniard starting just seven of the 28 games they played during his loan. The centre-back is not understood to be in United’s Championship plans.
With Rasmus Kristensen, Charlie Cresswell, Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk, Max Wober, Leo Hjelde and Luke Ayling all realistic central options next term, Llorente is someone Leeds may look to remove from the wage bill.
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