Sources: Leeds braced for ‘huge’ Llorente offers as Premier League giants line up
Leeds United are braced for “huge” offers for star defender Diego Llorente this summer, Football Insider has learned.
But United have no intention of cashing in on the 27-year-old who has transformed their back line since establishing himself in the starting XI.
A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club are aware of growing interest in the Spain international from rival Premier League clubs.
Top-quality centre-backs are thin on the ground and many of the elite are in the market for one in the upcoming window.
The source explained that Leeds are expecting “huge” bids to come in for Llorente that far exceed the £18million they paid Real Sociedad for him last summer.
Like his fellow 2020 signing Raphinha, Llorente has made a massive impression in a debut campaign that has demonstrated the level of United’s recruitment and ambition.
He missed most of the opening two-thirds of the campaign due to assorted injuries and made only two Premier League appearances by late February.
But since then he has emerged as the outstanding centre-back and all-round defender at Elland Road.
His reading of the game, unflappability and aerial dominance, allied with his outstanding distribution, have won over fans.
As Football Insider revealed last month, Marcelo Bielsa and the United staff believe Llorente is a “phenomenal” talent who can be even more effective next season with more Premier League experience under his belt.
The seven-times Spain international has made only 15 Leeds appearances in total, although he has started the last 13 Premier League matches.
Leeds have conceded 10 goals in those fixtures, compared to their record of 42 conceded from the first 24 games of the campaign.
In other news, Leeds United are set to sign Jack Harrison for “half price” after “done deal” verdict.