Leeds United are eager to generate significant interest in the future of on-loan winger Luis Sinisterra this summer, with reports indicating that Italian powerhouse AC Milan is poised to compete with Bournemouth for the permanent acquisition of the Colombian.
Sinisterra joined Leeds in July 2022 in a £21.4 million transfer from Feyenoord, marking the Dutch side’s largest-ever received transfer fee and providing Leeds with an immediate replacement for Raphinha, who moved to Barcelona. Despite encountering injury setbacks, Sinisterra proved to be a shrewd addition for the West Yorkshire club, shining brightly in a challenging season that ultimately ended in relegation.
The 24-year-old concluded the season with seven goals from 22 appearances, demonstrating his value to the team. Following relegation, Leeds’ new owners, 49ers Enterprises, prioritized retaining Sinisterra’s services, and initially, the move seemed successful. However, late in the transfer window, Sinisterra orchestrated a return to the Premier League with Bournemouth.
Since rejoining the Premier League, Sinisterra has faced further injury woes, but when fit, he has showcased his quality, registering three goals and two assists in 15 appearances for the Cherries.
With Andoni Iraola expressing strong admiration for Sinisterra, it was exclusively revealed that Bournemouth was eager to secure his permanent signing, potentially before the January transfer window closed. However, this deal did not materialize, though Bournemouth remains keen to secure the services of the loan star on a permanent basis.
Despite Sinisterra seemingly burning bridges at Elland Road, Leeds opted to postpone his sale.
AC Milan plot move to sign Sinisterra as replacement for €100m-rated star
The strategy seems to have yielded positive results, as reports from Italy now suggest that AC Milan is planning a significant move to outmaneuver Bournemouth in securing his signature.
Bournemouth holds the first refusal option to make the move permanent, but Leeds is not obligated to sell to them, and any permanent transfer can only occur if all parties involved agree to the terms.
According to recent reports, Milan is preparing to reignite their interest in Sinisterra, whom they initially considered signing in 2022 before Leeds secured his services. They view Sinisterra as a long-term replacement for Rafael Leao, the Portuguese winger who is a prized asset for the Italian giants. However, there is increasing speculation in the Italian media that Milan may sell Leao this summer, with PSG eyeing him as a successor to Kylian Mbappe, who is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent.
With the potential departure of Leao, Milan sees Sinisterra as the ideal successor in Stefano Pioli’s squad. Rumors suggest Milan could offer Leeds as much as €30 million (£25.4 million) for the winger, putting Leeds in a strong position for a potential bidding war over the summer.
Leeds loanee Diego Llorente told Roma plan to sell him on this summer
Sinisterra’s agent has previously expressed his desire for his client to have secured a move to Milan in the past, indicating the Rossoneri’s interest in a potential future transfer.
Speaking about the Italian market, the agent praised Roma’s signing of Romelu Lukaku, highlighting it as a significant achievement for the club. He also mentioned his wish for Sinisterra to join Milan or Roma, although it remains uncertain if there were concrete opportunities for such deals to materialize.
Meanwhile, Sinisterra won’t be the only Leeds loanee making moves this summer. Reports indicate that Roma is prepared to exercise their option to convert Diego Llorente’s loan into a permanent deal.
Llorente, who is currently on his second loan spell with the capital club, has become an integral part of their squad. Roma’s option to sign him permanently reportedly ranges between €5 million to €10 million, potentially earning Leeds between £4.2 million to £8.4 million in the summer transfer window.
However, Llorente’s permanent move to Roma may be short-lived, as La Repubblica suggests that Roma is planning to sell him for a profit during the close season. With the club needing to generate €50 million from player sales due to Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, Llorente could be a key asset in meeting this target.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is among the clubs linked with Llorente, with reports indicating they could offer as much as €20 million (£17.1 million) for his permanent signature. PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, is reportedly a keen admirer of Llorente, having previously utilized him regularly during his tenure as the manager of the Spanish national team.
Llorente has made 27 appearances for Roma this season across all competitions, establishing himself as one of their most consistent performers.
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