After an injury-plagued first half of the campaign, Diego Llorente's return to fitness coincided with Leeds United tightening up at the back and former midfielder David Norris believes big clubs will now be keeping a close eye on him.

Llorente was signed last summer to help Leeds make the step up into the Premier League but he has missed 121 days and 19 games through injury this season. However, the Spaniard has still managed to rack up a 6.90 WhoScored rating.

It has been reported that Leeds are preparing themselves for several big bids for the dominant centre back and after being picked for Spain ahead of Sergio Ramos, that will have only attracted more attention to him.

When Llorente has played for Leeds this season they have managed to keep five clean sheets in 15 games compared to without him when they have managed seven clean sheets in 21 games, and this is something that other clubs will be looking at as Norris told The Transfer Tavern:

"Just looking at him in the second half of the season, he has done really well because conceding goals really was a big problem for Leeds.

"These big clubs are always looking for that big signing, and because Llorente has proven that he's done it in the Premier League, they'll be keeping tabs on him but at this stage, I think it would be too much of a gamble."

The £22,000-a-week 27-year old arrived for, what could prove to be a bargain price of £18 million and he could well find himself at a bigger club in the coming seasons, especially if other clubs struggle to plug the hole they have at the back.

Instead of letting their top players leave after a great season back in the Premier League, Leeds will be looking to build on a top-half finish and add more quality all over the pitch to potentially challenge for Europe next season.