Reported Leeds United and Liverpool target Rodrigo de Paul will not be going anywhere on the cheap, Udinese’s vice-president Stefano Campoccia tells Radio Marte while revealing Napoli’s interest.
When you consider that the Zebrette have not finished in the top half of Serie A since 2012/13, it’s amazing really that they have managed to keep hold of one of Italy’s most influential midfielders for as long as they have.
But, after another season of mid-table mediocrity, it would be a major surprise if De Paul is still wearing black and white stripes next season too.
TuttoUdinese reports that Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are willing to pay £26 million for the all-action Argentine.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds, meanwhile, have been tracking De Paul for some time and are weighing up a summer bid of their own for a man who could set them back a club-record £40 million fee (The Sun).
Though, while refusing to confirm just how much it would cost to take the former Valencia youngster away from the Stadio Friuli, Campoccia was at pains to point out that De Paul will cost a rather sizeable sum.
“(Napoli owner Aurelio) De Laurentiis has made a transfer enquiry for De Paul. But he must understand that we are talking about an expensive footballer,” Campoccia explains, via Football Italia.
According to Mundo Deportivo, 26-year-old De Paul now believes the time is right to leave Udinese.
Where he ends up next, with Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Napoli also interested, is anyone’s guess.
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