Udinese will not stop Rodrigo de Paul leaving the Serie A outfit this summer amid interest from Leeds United and Liverpool, director Pierpaolo Marino told DAZN, via Football Italia.
After five years of loyal service, it is time for Le Zebrette to return the favour.
Although De Paul has never expressed his desire to leave the mid-table water-treaders for a new challenge elsewhere – well, apart from that infamous one-word Tweet of course – Udinese aren’t going to keep their talismanic captain against his will if the Argentina international does indeed decide that the time is right for a fresh start.
According to JuveLive, Leeds made a £24 million bid last summer for De Paul and remain on the trail of an all-action, all-round midfield general who would fit Marcelo Bielsa’s high-octane style very nicely.
Liverpool are interested too, with Udinese expected to demand £40 million for a player who, flitting effortlessly between attacking and more defensive roles, could be the new Gini Wijnaldum Jurgen Klopp wants and needs (TuttoUdinese).
“Obviously, he is a player whose name is on everyone’s lips,” Marino said this week when asked about De Paul’s future.
“We have the desire and strength to keep him. But if an opportunity he can’t refuse arrives, we couldn’t hold him back.”
It’d be interesting to see what sort of a role De Paul would be given at Elland Road, should Leeds finally win the race for one of their long-standing transfer targets.
Blessed with supreme technical ability and a mind as sharp as a a tack, De Paul contributed a combined 20 goals and assists this season.
When in action for Argentina, however, the former Valencia youngster has left Lionel Messi wowed in a more deep-lying, ball-winning role.
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