Former Leeds United star Jon Newsome doubts that the club will sell Diego Llorente this summer because of the complexities involved in replacing him.
Football Insider has claimed that the club are bracing themselves for huge bids for the central defender, with there being interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
None are named but Llorente enjoyed a thoroughly decent first season at Elland Road.
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The 27-year-old battled injuries throughout the first half of the season, dealing with groin and hamstring problems, but he made a total of 15 appearances for the club, impressing during the run-in.
Leeds finished in the top half of the Premier League under the management of Marcelo Bielsa and Newsome doubts that the club would be willing to countenance his sale, unless a huge offer is tabled.
Llorente has a contract with Leeds until 2024 and is valued at £18m by Transfermarkt.
Speaking exclusively to This Is Futbol, Newsome said: “But, you know, I wouldn’t have thought the club would be earmarking that area, for him to leave and to bring anybody else in.
“The problem you’ve got, you’ve then got to replace him. We’ve got Robin Koch, Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk who can play in there, Luke Ayling drops in there but you want him playing at full-back, Kalvin’s dropped in there but you want to be having Kalvin at CDM.
“I know there are a couple of younger players in the U23s who have done really, really well and are getting good reports but are they at the level, are they ready to be brought into the first-team and blooded?
“That remains to be seen so I’d be a bit surprised if that was to happen. I could only see it happening if it was a big number.”