---
title: "Leeds: James Marshment shocked at Diego Llorente transfer update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/james-marshment-shocked-diego-llorente-roma-loan/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2023-01-30T20:41:31Z"
modified: "2023-01-30T20:41:31Z"
---

# Leeds: James Marshment shocked at Diego Llorente transfer update

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) defender Diego Llorente looks set to join AS Roma, which has left TEAMtalk reporter [James Marshment](https://twitter.com/marshyleeds/status/1619993453210869765) shocked.**

### The Lowdown: Llorente on his way to Roma?

News emerged on Monday morning that the Spaniard looks set for a move to Italy in the final days of the January transfer window. An [agreement is in place](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1619991497402912768) between Leeds and Roma which will see the centre-back join Jose Mourinho’s side on loan until the end of the season.

The Serie A club will then have the [option](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1619991497402912768) to sign Llorente permanently in the summer, despite the fact that he only signed a [new deal at Elland Road](https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/30756/diego-llorente-signs-new-deal) last month.

### The Latest: Marshment shocked

Marshment took to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/marshyleeds/status/1619993453210869765) shortly after the update came to light regarding Llorente.

He was ‘absolutely thrown sideways’ at the news which ‘comes as a shock’, believing that there has been a ‘dramatic shift’ since the 29-year-old penned new terms in Yorkshire just before Christmas.

The Leeds-supporting journalist concluded by stating his ‘fear’ that Llorente leaving ‘may leave us a little light on right central defence’.

[![Latest Leeds United updates](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-14/)

### The Verdict: Seems to makes sense

Llorente has fallen out of favour under [Jesse Marsch](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/jesse-marsch/), making just [one start](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/diego-llorente/leistungsdaten/spieler/246291) in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) since October, so a temporary exit from Elland Road appears to be the right call for everyone involved.

The 29-year-old has been the club’s worst-performing centre-back this season as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) metrics, with [Phil Hay](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1619995482272731136) believing that a new contract was primarily given in order to maintain his value.

That looks set to have worked, and if Leeds are able to recoup the £18m that they paid for the Spaniard in 2020 – with Hay suggesting that the move will come with an [obligation](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1619995199555649536) to become permanent rather than an option – it could be a smart piece of business, especially with Marsch having [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/kader/verein/399) other senior centre-backs at his disposal

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418869″\]