Diego Llorente

[weasel]

Supposedly Llorente was one of the 7 players Bielsa wanted when he was, very briefly, manager at Lazio. Bielsa resigned after Lazio broke promises but presumably Llorente still has the qualities Bielsa wanted then.

[Cjay]

Deal done

4 year contract.

£18mil ish fee.

Welcome Diego

[mothbanquet]

Yippedy-do-da

[1964white]

I'm as happy as a pig in muck with this signing

Bring on the amigos

Yo te quiero

[paddy parrott]

I think a bottle of red is called for!

[onemoreslogan]

So glad this is over the line. We absolutely needed another quality player at the back. Great signing! Loving this window!

[Gandalf]

Deal done

4 year contract.

£18mil ish fee.

Welcome Diego

£18M Euros - approx £16.5M. Although some quarters are saying it is £17M Euros. Doubt we will ever know the true fee.

[1964white]

Hoping Diego is the answer to clean sheets

[1964white]

So glad this is over the line. We absolutely needed another quality player at the back. Great signing! Loving this window!

De Paul or someone of similar quality would be the icing on the cake

[Cjay]

£18M Euros - approx £16.5M. Although some quarters are saying it is £17M Euros. Doubt we will ever know the true fee.

Is it? I got the fee off Phil's twitter.

Probably never know as you say but its definitely less than the £20mil we were offering for Gvardiol so thats good.

[onemoreslogan]

De Paul or someone of similar quality would be the icing on the cake

Yes a starting quality AM who can run the ball with pizzazz would leave me in puppy heaven, but I don't feel it's something we should force either. The three big fish and all the youth signings have been terrific. If Victor stops here I have no problem tipping my hat to him.

[Smudge3920]

De Paul or someone of similar quality would be the icing on the cake

IMO '64 if they get RDP over the line , I think that's the final piece (for now) and we can be even more confident going forward.

[John in Louisiana]

I think a bottle of red is called for!

Rioja!

[Gandalf]

Rioja!

Nah, It has to be an Argentinian Malbec.

[wilsdenwhite]

Creswell - 6 ft
Casey - 6 ft 2
Cooper - 6 ft 2
Llorente - 6 ft 1
Strujik - 6 ft 3
Koch - 6 ft 3
Meslier - 6 ft 6

Finally should be able to handle those sides who adopt the direct, hoofball approach.

[Leeds1000]

I was hoping for 2 CB better than Cooper. 2 International CB for the price of Ben White. Sounds good to me. As people have mentioned its piece of mind if we get injury to a CB. I think MB may surprise us all this season and rotate a bit more so plenty of room for Cooper. All three will help push each other along. Great for Bielsa and Orta obviously using is home country connections.

I'm buzzing that we are starting to attract top International players again. 3 years stability of plucking 2 /3 good international pros is the way forward. But we still have a big job at hand this season.

[1964white]

Creswell - 6 ft
Casey - 6 ft 2
Cooper - 6 ft 2
Llorente - 6 ft 1
Strujik - 6 ft 3
Koch - 6 ft 3
Meslier - 6 ft 6

Finally should be able to handle those sides who adopt the direct, hoofball approach.

I can't see Casey & Cresswell getting much game time but I get your gist Wilsden.

Dallas, Ayling, Bamford & Klich whom are heavily involved at defensive set-pieces are also 6ft

[1964white]

I was hoping for 2 CB better than Cooper. 2 International CB for the price of Ben White. Sounds good to me. As people have mentioned its piece of mind if we get injury to a CB. I think MB may surprise us all this season and rotate a bit more so plenty of room for Cooper. All three will help push each other along. Great for Bielsa and Orta obviously using is home country connections.

I'm buzzing that we are starting to attract top International players again. 3 years stability of plucking 2 /3 good international pros is the way forward. But we still have a big job at hand this season.

As oppose to going through last season with just two recognised CB's although Berardi did a fantastic job when he stepped in. You can getaway with it in the championship, certainly not in the PL

[The Subhuman]

A French Pinot Noir surely, preferably Alsace ...maybe a South African Pinotage...I'd settle for an American Zinfandel or Chilean Merlot though

[1964white]

Victor Orta on Diego Llorente:

“At 27, he is arguably at the perfect performance level to play football. For a defender at this age you know your job, you are not really old or really young and for me this is the perfect for the position of centre-back"

"In the last two windows Diego was in high demand and received some big offers, but Real Sociedad not to sell. He stayed there until the end of the season and now the situation occurred where we have managed to do the deal which is perfect for us"

"We are really happy. Our target to sign players with the characteristics to suit the team in the position of a central defender requires elements like distribution accuracy, good rhythm of play and pace, which is really difficult to find"

“With the arrivals of both Diego and Robin Koch we are very pleased. The prices of transfers for this level of internationals can be really difficult, but we have taken advantage of the opportunity within the market.”