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Leeds United loanee Diego Llorente set to return to club in summer

Diego Llorente Leeds May22

Following his loan spell at AS Roma, Diego Llorente looks set to return to the West Yorkshire club in the summer.

In some potentially welcome news for Leeds United fans, centre-back Llorente is likely to return to the club this summer.

The defender would add a layer of stability back to the Leeds defence - something they have seemingly lacked this season.

This comes after Roma have reportedly decided against signing the defender on a permanent deal.

Jose Mourinho's side had an option to buy at the end of the loan deal for a reported fee of around £18million.

This is despite the 26-year-old becoming a regular fixture in Roma's starting line-up.

The defender has made seven appearances in all competitions for Roma and looks to have integrated himself in the system nicely.

Llorente is 29-years-old so whichever club he ends up at this summer is likely going to be the last of his prime.

Mourinho signed the defender on an inital loan deal on January transfer deadline day following Leeds' acquisition of Portugal U19 starlet Diogo Monteiro.

The 29-year-old had fallen down the pecking order at Leeds behind the likes of Liam Cooper and Maximilian Wober.

Llorente was handed his professional debut by Mourinho whilst the pair were at Real Madrid together during the 2012/13 season.

The Spain international may not return to Elland Road for long as Villarreal are interested in acquiring his services.

The Yellow Submarine have been long admirers of the defender and believe he would make an ideal partner for star defender, Pau Torres.
Villarreal centre-back, Raul Albiol has recently announced his retirement so the Spanish side will be looking for his replacement during the coming transfer window.

Hence why Villarreal manager, Quique Setien, sees the 29-year-old as an ideal replacement. 

He would add further stability to an already strong side and would enable the club to rotate between Juan Foyth, Aissa Mandi and Torres more often.
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