Liverpool are continuing to be linked with a move for Udinese midfielder Rodrigo de Paul ahead of the summer transfer window, and if he were to join ahead of next season, he would arguably be an upgrade on Curtis Jones in Jurgen Klopp’s side.
According to reports from Italy, Klopp wants to rebuild his Liverpool side around the Argentine international next season, as he is a big fan of the Udinese ace.
De Paul has been attracting a lot of interest from across Europe with his performances in recent seasons, with Leeds United heavily linked with a move for him last summer.
During his time with I Bianconeri, the 26-year-old has made 170 appearances, contributing 30 goals and 29 assists in that time.
However, it is only in the last few seasons where he has started to emphasise his goalscoring potential, and he has continued that form into the current season, as he has contributed five goals and two assists in 22 Serie A appearances, resulting in a superb 7.34 rating.
This season has seen the playmaker average 2.4 shots, 2.5 key passes and 3.5 dribbles per game, so he is clearly an attacking threat, and would perhaps be better suited than Jones in Klopp’s side, with the Reds’ lack of creativity in midfield having been increasingly evident in recent fixtures.
For comparison, Jones has averaged 0.8 shots, 0.5 key passes and 1 dribble per game in the Premier League this season, resulting in a less than impressive 6.60 average rating.
Of course, the academy graduate is still just 20-years-old and is undoubtedly destined for a great career with the Reds, it is perhaps unfair for Klopp to be so reliant on the youngster, especially when he is often paired with more defensive-minded midfielders such as Jordan Henderson and James Milner.
De Paul’s former manager Julio Velazquez suggested in 2020 that the midfielder “lacks absolutely nothing”, so it certainly seems as if he is destined to move away from Udinese in the near future, considering they currently sit 13th in Serie A.
Therefore, signing someone such as De Paul could significantly increase Liverpool’s attacking output next season, and take some of the pressure off Jones in the Reds’ midfield.
AND, in other news… Edwards can rectify January mistake by bringing 21 y/o centre-back to Anfield this summer