Gary Devonport, host of the Talking Shutt podcast, has been discussing Leeds United’s interest in Argentine attacking midfielder Rodrigo de Paul.
The Whites have been heavily linked with a move for the Udinese man during this window but up until now, the two clubs have been unable to agree a transfer fee, with the Serie A club said to be demanding at least €35m (£32m) and Leeds – according to Calcio Mercato – are simply not prepared to pay that.
Taking all of the above into consideration, Devonport feels a deal that would see the 26-year-old come to Yorkshire is unlikely. Here is what he had to say:
“I don’t think [Rodrigo] De Paul is going to happen, if I’m honest. We’ve got a set fee, we’ve got what we want to pay and we’ll find somebody who fits into that.”
De Paul made 34 appearances in Serie A last season, contributing seven goals and providing his teammates with six assists (as per WhoScored). His average performance rating was an impressive 7.25/10 and he was Man of the Match on eight occasions, according to the website – highlighting just how influential he can be.
Do you expect Leeds to sign an attacking-midfielder during this window?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
It’s clear that in Devonport’s view, the asking price will put Marcelo Bielsa’s side off doing a deal. TuttoMercatoWeb (via One Football) claims that Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi has emerged as a target for Leeds, and given he plays in the same position as De Paul, he could be a suitable alternative.
According to Transfermarkt, Malinovskyi is currently valued at £18.9m – and when comparing to De Paul, who is valued at £27m, perhaps it could be argued that the Ukrainian may be available at a more affordable price.