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Liverpool and Leeds United head European competition in £34.2m race for Rodrigo de Paul transfer
According to , Liverpool and Leeds United are ahead of AC Milan in the race to sign Udinese midfielder Rodrigo de Paul in the upcoming summer transfer window.
De Paul tops the shortlist of potential Hakan Calhanoglu replacements sitting on the desk of Rossoneri Technical Director Paolo Maldini, as he prepares to cover the potential loss of the Turkish playmaker.
Milan have so far failed to make progress in negotiations with Calhanoglu on a new contract at the San Siro stadium over recent weeks and are not optimistic in finding an agreement, but could miss out on their ideal successor.
Udinese are expected to demand €40million (£34.2m) to sell De Paul at the end of the season, which is deemed to be a very high figure for Milan to meet in their current financial situation brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Liverpool and Leeds are also ahead of the Serie A side in the race to obtain De Paul’s signature, with the two Premier League clubs on the front row of the interested parties.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites have long been credited with an interest in the Argentine playmaker, but note that they were never close to finalising a deal last summer and also have other midfield targets in mind for the upcoming window.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were also touted as a potential destination for the 26-year-old recently, with claiming in February that the Anfield natives were set to propose a €30m (£25.7m) deal – suggesting they will have to increase their offer to be successful.
TBR’s view:
With Leeds known to have other targets in mind and Liverpool’s proposed plans falling some way shy of Udinese’s valuation, it remains to be seen if either are able to edge out Milan for De Paul’s services even if the Premier League pair are currently ahead in the race.
Either Bielsa or Klopp would surely be thrilled to have a player of De Paul’s ability at their disposal next season, though, as the Udinese captain is a phenomenal playmaker with nine goals and Serie A appearances this term.
Former Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra, now at the Stadio Friuli, also lauded De Paul in conversation with last month for having a ‘truly enviable’ physique but also for having an ‘enormous’ ability with and without the ball.
With Liverpool due to lose Georginio Wijnaldum in the summer (), as well, Klopp’s need for midfield creativity will go up a notch, so it is no wonder why they are linked with De Paul.