Leandro Paredes is on Liverpool’s bloody radar again, or so a report from Tutto Mercato Web would indicate with the Reds supposedly lining up a £21.5 million bid for the midfielder.
We are all aware that this coming summer transfer window will be one of mass recruitment with several players also set to leave the club. The issue with this being common knowledge is rubbish stories like Leandro Paredes to Liverpool tend to surface.
It’s really just a matter of time before reports emerge that ‘Jürgen Klopp wants Christian Tello to add pace to his side.’
Right, back to the Paredes story.
So, according to the ever-so-reliable Tutto Mercato Web, with Paredes’ contract with Roma set to run out in June 2019, the Italian side will want to offload him while he still holds some value. Thus, his £21.5 million price tag would represent some value to them as he could leave for free if he doesn’t leave this summer.
That seems reasonable enough, right? It does but my issue is not with the plain facts regarding Paredes’ contract situation at Roma.
Rather, I don’t see any more room in Klopp’s squad for a midfielder in the Argentinean’s mould. As much as Paredes is a fantastic footballer, unless Klopp is going to bench one of Adam Lallana or Georginio Wijnaldum next season, there is no room for another attack-minded midfielder.
What is needed in Liverpool’s engine room is a real brick shithouse. Much like what Javier Mascherano brought to the squad when he was on Merseyside. Also an Argentinean, the now Barcelona player focused solely on stopping opposition attacks and rarely ventured forward. Similar to how Nemanja Matic operates at Chelsea.
Liverpool are on course to finish in the top four in the Premier League, securing Champions League qualification for next season. In this, the Reds will be able to attract players of a higher calibre, although Klopp has proven astute in finding players are yet to achieve their true potential like Sadio Mané and didn’t necessarily need to sign players like Paul Pogba to do the business this season.
As I said, however, more important than signing nifty attackers this summer will be signing no-nonsense defenders and intolerant midfielders.
If Klopp realises this, next season could shape up nicely both domestically and in Europe.