‘Never been anything’: Director comments on reported £31m Leeds target

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Fiorentina will not be challenging Leeds United for the signing of Rodrigo de Paul, with sporting director Daniele Prade claiming that the Udinese ace ‘is not part of our plans’ while speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.

With speculation suggesting that the Argentine international wants to stay in Italy, and Juventus and Napoli both linked of late, Andrea Radrizzani is still a long way from the summit.

FantaCalcio suggested recently that Premier League newcomers Leeds had a £31 million bid accepted by Udinese.

But, after four years with Le Zabrette, De Paul does not appear to be particularly keen on the idea of upping sticks and swapping Italy for Engand.

The Mirror (8 September, page 65) suggests that the all-action 26-year-old, who outshone Lionel Messi, Paolo Dybala, Sergio Aguero and co at last year’s Copa America, is awaiting an offer from Serie A champions Juventus.

One club who are not in the race, however, is a Fiorentina side who have been linked with De Paul more than most in recent weeks.

“There has never been anything this year,” says Prade, rubbishing the ongoing speculation.

“He is a player I know very well (but) he is not tactically part of our plans.”

Marcelo Bielsa is a coach who demands remarkable levels of adaptability from his players, with Stuart Dallas, Gianni Alioski, Ben White, Tyler Roberts and more asked to play in unfamiliar roles during Leeds’ Championship title-winning campaign.

It is no coincidence that De Paul is equally comfortable in the middle, on the right or out on the left, producing 14 goals and assists in a variety of positions for Udinese last season.

Rodrigo Moreno, meanwhile, can play as a striker or a number ten while centre-half Robin Koch impressed in a defensive midfield role at Freiburg recently.