Leeds United will resume pre-season testing next week as they prepare for the new season.
Other Championship teams, such as Burnley and Middlesbrough, have already returned, however Leeds’ season ended later owing to the Championship play-off final, so they have been given an extra week.
It will be fascinating to see who attends next week, as just a few Leeds players are currently on international duty.
Max Wober, Rasmus Kristensen, and Brenden Aaronson are the three players who are now away at the EUROs or Copa America and will not return for some time.
Ethan Ampadu, Dan James, Ilia Gruev, and Junior Firpo are also unlikely to be among the initial set of returnees, as they represented their respective countries prior to the start of the two main international competitions.
Meanwhile, Liam Cooper, Jamie Shackleton, and Cody Drameh continue to have unsigned contracts and will need to make a decision quickly.
Report reveals whether Diego Llorente will return for pre-season day one.
Leeds have a few players who were out of the picture last season and are returning for day one of testing.
Sam Greenwood and Darko Gyabi are examples of this, having spent the previous season on loan at Middlesbrough and Plymouth Argyle, respectively. Their fates remain uncertain.
Despite extensive rumors about prospective departures, Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, and Archie Gray are also set to return after a full summer off.
However, according to Leeds Live, one surprise player who might be back in West Yorkshire next week is Diego Llorente, who has not played for the club in 18 months.
He has been on loan at AS Roma for the past season and a half, and the club has yet to decide whether to sign him permanently.
According to the article, Llorente is due back on Farke’s ‘day one registration’, but there is still a chance he will be instructed to train alone or possibly stay away entirely until a transfer is arranged.
How does the land affect Llorente’s future?
Llorente did not come to Leeds for pre-season last year due to speculation, and it would not be surprising if he did the same this year.
Llorente has apparently stated that he desires to make another leave, although the scenario is significantly different this time around.
Unlike last summer, the 30-year-old’s contract does not include an active loan provision, thus he is banking on a team to buy him permanently for about £4 million.
Roma remain favourites, but have not progressed as quickly as expected, allowing Real Betis to enter the race.
