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Yesterday, Sky Italia claimed Liverpool were eyeing Roma midfielder Leandro Paredes. Today, rumour mongers in Italy have doubled down on Paredes to Anfield, with Football Italia claiming an £18M bid has been launched and that a deal, to be completed shortly, is well within the realm of possibility.
The 22-year-old Argentine was signed by Romain 2014 on a loan from Boca Juniors that carried with it a €6M purchase option they triggered last summer before turning around and loaning Paredes to Empoli for the season. In that first year at Roma, Paredes made ten Serie A appearances and scored once.
Last year, with Empoli, he made 33 Serie A appearances and scored two goals and an assist while playing as the main holding midfielder for Italy’s tenth-best side. Parades has some versatility to his game and can play in a box-to-box role, but he is primarily a holding player.
That would seem to make him a good fit for Liverpool, or at least it would in the eyes of fans who have been crying out for a new defensive mid ever since it became clear Lucas’ injuries had caught up with him. Yet while Lucas is still at the club, and with Emre Can first choice, it’s hard to see where Parades fits.
Liverpool’s inability to set a foundation in midfield against Burnley was key to their 2-0 loss, but following the match, Klopp was quick to point to the absence of both Can and Lucas, who recently had a move to Galatasaray blocked because Klopp wanted him to see out the final season of his contract.
If Klopp sees Can and Lucas as his two main options there, with Kevin Stewart emergency depth, Parades simply doesn’t fit. If a move for Lucas is still potentially on the table, it’s possible the rumours out of Italy just might have some truth to them.
Still, it’s a stretch, and without confirmation from any journalists with ties to Liverpool, fans would be wise to treat any Italian rumour mongering with extreme skepticism and to not get too excited about the idea of the club maybe having already bid on a young and talented holding midfield player.