Leeds United have endured varying success with their transfer business since returning to the Premier League.
Marcelo Bielsa enjoyed a fine first season back in the top flight with few additions, but it was his reliance on a smaller squad that ended up being his downfall. Injuries and loss of form meant they suffered numerous heavy defeats, and the Argentine saw his time at Elland Road cut short.
That even came after he had tried to bolster the squad, most notably relinquishing £18m to sign Diego Llorente from Real Sociedad. However, his introduction did not have the desired effect towards solidifying the Whites’ leaky defence.
Then, with Jesse Marsch’s arrival, the Spaniard saw his play time dwindle even further. This culminated in his exit in January, as he joined AS Roma on loan with an option for the Italian outfit to sign him permanently.
It marked a huge lack of faith in the defender whose value has plummeted since his move in 2020.
How has Diego Llorente played for Leeds?
The 29-year-old only mustered 59 appearances for the club before this departure, and this season had made just six league starts. Even when he did feature, his average Sofascore rating of 6.67 was indicative of a huge underperformance.
It marked a sharp downturn from his first season success, where he averaged a 7.01 rating whilst recording 2.3 tackles and 2.5 clearances per game (via Sofascore).
His decline has coincided with that of the club’s into one scrapping for relegation in recent seasons, with his display in January drawing particular admonishment from journalist Jake Winderman.
He wrote on Twitter: “Diego Llorente and Junior Firpo go back into the squad and the defense looks even worse than usual. This is an absolute joke.”
As such, Football Transfers note that the nadir of his expected Transfer Value now sits at a dismal €4.3 (£3.8m); a visual indicator of his waning powers.
Llorente had lost the faith of his management but was sent away just before Javi Gracia was chosen as the man to succeed Marsch.
Perhaps he could have recaptured his form under his compatriot, and this negligence only further outlines the mockery the ownership has made of the club in recent years.
Bielsa is revered in Yorkshire, and rightly so, but with this particular deal, it seems he got it badly wrong.
