It was expected that a number of high-profile players would depart, but not many would have foreseen the number of players that left on a temporary basis to either clubs in the Premier League or across the continent.
Diego Llorente’s second loan departure to AS Roma
One of those was Diego Llorente, who extended his stay at the Stadio Olimpico, having joined AS Roma on loan for the second period of last season under José Mourinho.
As if Llorente and Leeds’ fortunes during the second half of last season couldn’t have been more contrasting. Just days after the Whites’ relegation was confirmed on the final day of the Premier League season, Llorente was named as a substitute in ‘I Giallorossi’s UEFA Europa League final defeat to Sevilla on penalties.
This led to his time in the Italian capital being extended on July 8th 2023, after making 59 appearances at Elland Road under the management of Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch, just two-and-a-half years after the Uruguayan paid Real Sociedad an estimated £18m fee, with the 10-cap Spanish international signing his most recent contract at Elland Road back in December 2022, which runs until June 2026.
