Leeds table £25m bid for £25k/wk attacker described as 'different level' – report

Leeds United have tabled a £25m bid for Udinese attacking midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, according to Prensa Futbol.

However, that's not going to be enough to complete the deal, with Udinese wanting £31.2m for the 26-year-old.

The report also claims that Leeds will have to battle Juventus for the player's signature.

According to Prensa Futbol, de Paul has just finished the "best season of his life" and he's established himself as a regular in the Argentina first team.

He's also reportedly the highest-paid player in the Udinese side, on £25k-a-week.

Next-level signing

Leeds United fans weren't expecting a move for a player of the calibre of de Paul after signing Valencia striker Rodrigo.

Phil Hay has claimed that he is a "different level" player and stats bear that out.

He features prominently in the 'Most Chances Created' table across the top five leagues in Europe over the last four seasons.

He's also a full Argentina international who can play across a number of different positions.

Last season he played more as a central midfielder, pulling the strings in the heart of play and putting a big defending shift in. However, he still scored seven goals and added six assists.

With Leeds not having an out-and-out goal-scorer, de Paul will score and help create chances as well as ensuring a solid defence.

This could be key to next season. Sheffield United have been put forward as a model for Leeds to follow and it's worth remembering that their top scorer only got six goals.

They finished ninth and most Leeds fans would snap that finishing position off now.

We think de Paul could be the player who puts the cherry on top of this Leeds squad.

In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay drops big hint about whether Rodrigo will play for Leeds v Liverpool