Leeds United have announced the arrival of Diego Llorente. The defender has joined from Real Sociedad for an undisclosed fee, becoming the club’s second marquee defensive signing. Llorente has already signed a four-year deal at the Elland Road and will wear the number 14 kit for Leeds United in the ongoing campaign.
Diego Llorente: A Good Defensive Outlet?
Llorente has been making waves in La Liga for a few years now. Ever since his breakthrough back in 2015/16, the defender has become an ever-present figure in the Spanish top flight, making over 130 appearances throughout his spell at Real Sociedad, Rayo Vallecano, and Malaga, respectively.
A centre-back by trade, Llorente is primarily known for his composed presence in the defensive half. He is very good at reading the game, thus allowing him to move up the pitch and cut off any passing lanes. He can be compared to his compatriot Marc Bartra, in that respect.
Aside from that, the ex-Real Sociedad defender boasts a slender yet imposing 1.86m frame that gives him a slight edge in aerial duels. However, it is his good ball-distribution that makes Llorente such an all-round centre-back. He has consistently attained a pass completion rate of over 84% throughout his spell at Real Sociedad.
How Does Llorente Fit Into Scheme At Leeds United?
At Leeds United, Llorente is likely to serve as an alternative for Liam Cooper. Following a rusty defensive start to the campaign, Marcelo Bielsa evidently needs to upgrade his defence, especially with new signing Robin Koch having no prior experience in the English top flight.
Cooper, meanwhile, is usually a reliable defender. He has the experience of English football, which is combined with his ability to lead the team and motivate the players. Llorente, in that regard, may not be able to provide that.
However, the Spaniard is more experienced at the highest level of football. His calmness, skill, and intuition could be helpful for Leeds United, a team that have conceded seven goals in their first two Premier League matches.
Not to mention, the addition of Llorente should allow Koch to feature in a more natural left-sided role at centre-back. The player’s ability to march forward, meanwhile, should tune in well with Bielsa’s tactical setup that usually sees the right-sided defender moving up, with right-back Luke Ayling remaining deep to retain the balance. Hence, the Spaniard should be a good fit for the Whites.
