{"id":566783,"date":"2020-09-22T10:09:43","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T14:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=566783"},"modified":"2020-09-22T10:09:43","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T14:09:43","slug":"report-spanish-centre-back-diego-llorente-close-to-sealing-move-to-leeds-united","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/09\/22\/report-spanish-centre-back-diego-llorente-close-to-sealing-move-to-leeds-united\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT: Spanish Centre-Back Diego Llorente Close to Sealing Move to Leeds United"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spanish centre-back Diego Llorente is closing to sealing a move to Leeds United<\/a>, according to Phil Hay of The Athletic.<\/a><\/p>\n

Leeds had been close to sealing a move for Dinamo Zagreb defender Josko Gvardiol<\/a>. However, he has opted to join Bundesliga side RB Leipzig instead.<\/p>\n

Leeds United Close to Agreeing a Deal for Diego Llorente<\/h2>\n

Swift Deal<\/h3>\n

Since Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds found out about Gvardiol’s move to Leipzig, they have moved quickly onto other targets.<\/p>\n

According to the report, talks between Leeds and Llorente’s current club Real Sociedad are progressing well, with a deal hoping to be completed in time for to be in the squad to face Sheffield United<\/a> this weekend.<\/p>\n

Bielsa has always hoped to bring in two centre-back’s this summer. Although he prefers to operate with a small squad, he currently has just three central defenders in his squad.<\/p>\n

As a result, Llorente is expected to join to add further competitions to their ranks.<\/p>\n

Experienced Central Defender<\/h3>\n

Should he join, the 27-year-old would bring a wealth of experience and quality to Elland Road.<\/p>\n

The Real Sociedad defender has been capped five times by his native Spain, showing how highly-rated he is. He was part of their most recent squad to face Germany and Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League.<\/p>\n

Llorente has become a mainstay in the Sociedad defence, making 30 appearances in all competitions last season.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the reason why he is being sought after by Leeds and Bielsa is his calm nature on the ball. The 27-year-old averaged 56.2 passes per game last season, totalling an impressive completion rate of 87.3%<\/a>. Bielsa prefers his side to move the ball out from the back as quickly as possible, meaning Llorente could be the perfect fit.<\/p>\n

Leeds are also looking to make further additions before the window. They are keeping tabs<\/a> on Manchester United’s<\/a> Dan James, as well as several central midfielders.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>