The need to strengthen the midfield is obvious and we were earlier linked with the 22-year old Leandro Paredes, who plays for AS Roma. Just when there were doubts regarding the possibility of the move, we have been handed a major boost in pursuit of the Roma sensation as the Italian club have issued an ultimatum to the player over signing a new contract.
The Transfer Market Web earlier suggested that Liverpool, Juventus and Zenit St-Petersburg were all interested in securing his services this summer and now La Gazzetta Dello Sport (h/t Daily Star) claim that Roma might be willing to sell the player this summer. They also claim that Paredes has been handed an ultimatum – either to sign a new contract or leave.
Roma will apparently demand £22m to sell the Argentine international and this might just be the right amount to tempt Jurgen Klopp to raid AS Roma once again. Mohamed Salah’s £39m deal is edging closer to completion (Telegraph) and signing Paredes would be a massive strike by Klopp as the midfielder is a quality player with huge potential.
Paredes made 41 appearances last season for Roma and scored 3 goals and provided an assist. He primarily plays as a defensive midfielder and that is precisely what we need – protection for the defence. Paredes likes to tackle and is a strong tackler too. He is a complete midfielder considering that he is a great passer and an extremely good set-piece taker. He is also someone who isn’t shy of letting fly from distance and backs himself in such situations.
Paredes is also capable of playing his teammates into good positions and splits the opposition through with his precise passes – a very important trait for a deep lying midfielder. He has no apparent weaknesses and is quite a complete package.
It is not surprising to see us get linked with such a player as we need strengthening in the midfield. Now that Salah is set to arrive as well, it is possible that Coutinho will move into central midfield. This will prompt Klopp to search for more defensive balance and Leandro Paredes looks like a good bet.
