According to Football Insider, Real Betis has expressed interest in signing Leeds United defender Diego Llorente this summer.
Betis had already signed Marc Roca from Leeds, and Llorente’s name came up during the negotiations.
After spending last season on loan at Roma, the defender is unlikely to return to Leeds, according to sources, and interest in his signing is “concrete”.
The 30-year-old’s contract at Elland Road expires in two years, and a new loan or permanent deal is expected to be signed in the coming weeks.
Real Betis makes contact about Diego Llorente’s signing from Leeds United
Llorente joined Leeds from Real Sociedad for £18 million in 2020, then signed a new contract in 2022, but the club is now looking to cash in on his signing.
Since moving to England, the centre-back has played 59 Premier League games for the club.
He was part of last summer’s mass exodus from Elland Road following their relegation and is unlikely to return while the club is in the Championship.
Having spent the second part of the relegation season on loan at Roma, the arrangement was renewed for the following year.
The centre-back had a mixed season as Roma reached the Europa League semi-finals, although he was benched for both legs, and ended sixth in Serie A.
Betis, meanwhile, were successful in their loan agreement for Roca and will now attempt to renew their relationship with Leeds in order to sign Llorente.
Roca appeared 37 times for the Spanish club during his loan term, scoring four goals and providing three assists from a deeper midfield position as they finished seventh.
