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Good Morning. It's Monday 8th July, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Betis bargain bonanza
Real Betis have convinced Leeds to part with Diego Llorente for just £2.5m according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
Llorente, an £18m signing from Real Sociedad four years ago, has been attracting interest from a host of European clubs, and looked set to be sold for considerably more than £4.2m (the fee fixed last Summer via a gentleman's agreement with Roma).
When the Giallorossi lost interest, Betis tried their luck! Confidence was already high, having just captured Marc Roca for £3.8m. Whether they have some kind of hold of the ER hierarchy is unknown, but at £2.5m, we might as well have kept him!
This brings Real Betis's spending in West Yorkshire to £8m, leaving Leeds with a £22m loss on the pair (Roca cost £12m, whilst Llorente was bought for £18m).
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Did Orta omit relegation clause to keep Llorente at ER
Former Spanish International Diego Llorente only signed a lucrative three and a half year deal at Leeds (£57,000 pw - £247,000 pm) a month before joining Roma on loan.
Herein may lie the problem. With Victor Orta given free reign to do what he liked, and Messrs Radrizzani (56% owners) and 49ers Enterprises (44% owners at the time) both showing a blatant disregard to the terms of their own players contracts, Orta may have omitted the 50% salary reduction (in-case of relegation).
We know the former Director of Football rated him highly. We have also been made aware in the past (from Phil Hay) that the 30yo was the only player signed during Bielsa's reign that the Argentine didn't sanction, but Orta was so insistent, Radrizzani bought Llorente anyway!
even though at this level, he would prove competitive, especially if he could show the same form he produced for Roma!
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Trio should never play for Leeds again
Sun journalist Justin Allen has laid into Rasmus Kristensen, Max Wober and Diego Llorente, insisting the trio should never play for Leeds again, after deserting them last Summer in their time of need!
He made his views very clear on Twitter over the weekend, but made special dispensation for Brenden Arronson, who, like the trio was quick to pack his bags and jump on the nearest plane!
“It’s encouraging Brenden Aaronson is indicating he’ll return to Leeds this season after last summer activating a loan clause to leave Elland Road for Union Berlin. “This is good news for the LUFC after Archie Gray left for Tottenham.
"I personally think none of the others should be allowed to come back. “They jumped and didn’t want to right the wrongs of relegation – why should Daniel Farke want any of them to be part of his plans?”
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Whites renew interest in Liverpool flop
With Charlie Cresswell expecting to complete his £3.8m move to Toulouse in the next day or so, and similarly Liam Cooper expecting to move on, Leeds have renewed their interest in Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips.
Phillips was hotly tipped to join the Whites last Summer, but lost interest after capturing Joe Rodon. Instead, the 27yo joined Celtic on loan, but after a terrible start was returned to Anfield. He made a much better go of things at Cardiff after Christmas. He made 17 starts, and recorded a respectable 6.75 rating, placing him 4th in their squad rankings.
Phillips is available at the cutdown price of just £5m, and if he can rediscover his recent form, will be money well invested.
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Monday's Caption Competition
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I for one am delighted Llorente has gone, awful defender imo 
