Rodrigo De Paul has sent a clear message to Liverpool by admitting to Sky Italia that he would be tempted to leave Udinese for a club playing in the Champions League, via FantaMaster.
Of course, there is no guarantee right now that Jurgen Klopp’s side will be playing in Europe’s number one club competition next season.
You would have got long odds on Liverpool finishing outside the top four one year after hoisting the Premier League trophy into the Anfield air but, after a horror start to 2021 which has left the Reds sitting seventh in the table, that is the reality facing Klopp and co.
And with De Paul suggesting that he would only consider bringing an end to his five-year stay at Udinese if a Champions League club comes calling, Liverpool should not be short of extra motivation as they look to overhaul Chelsea, Leicester and co between now and the end of May.
“The day where I say farewell will come,” said the Argentina international.
“I dream of playing in the Champions League and, sooner or later, I will succeed. When one does things well in the end, he succeeds in reaching the goal.”
According to TuttoUdinese, Liverpool may be willing to pay £43 million for a winger-turned-mezzala who, with his impressive blend of technical and physical gifts, looks a readymade replacement for the departing Gini Wijnaldum.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are weighing up a bid of their own after flirting with De Paul throughout the summer of 2020 (the Sun).
But, while the Yorkshire giants have made remarkable progress under their enigmatic head coach, Champions League football at Elland Road is still a distant dream.
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