Liverpool target De Paul could leave Udinese

James Shearman

• Updated: 19 May 2021 14:24 BST
• 2 min read

Rodrigo De Paul could leave Udinese this summer after failing to secure a January move amid reported interest from Liverpool.

The Argentine was linked with a move to Anfield, along with Juventus and Inter, after an impressive first half of the season at Stadio Friuli, but a move never materialised.

However, Udinese’s sporting director Pasquale Marino has admitted the club could face no choice but to sell their prized asset this summer, despite his contract running until 2024.

“He has characteristics that many top clubs in Europe are missing,” Marino told Radio 24 in Italy.

“I hope it doesn’t happen, but whoever signs him next summer will raise their team to a different level.”

De Paul also found himself subject to interest from Leeds United before the season began, but has never publicly flirted with a move away from the Serie A club.

“I don’t know when my last day here will be,” the Argentine told the club’s official website.

“I will give everything for Udinese until that moment. There were many rumours about my future in January, but I immediately met the director to tell him I wanted to go nowhere.

“I closed doors for everyone, my daughter was born here, and my son is going to be born here, he will be Friulano.”

Since signing from Valencia in 2016, the midfielder has made 168 appearances, scoring 30 goals.

Liverpool are likely to be in need of midfield reinforcements this summer, with Georginio Wijnaldum’s contract up and ever-reliable James Milner nearing the end of his career.

De Paul is reportedly valued at around £30m, a figure that will excite a host of European clubs as they look to sign a quality player for a fraction of the mega deals in recent times.