MOT View: Orta made big Leeds transfer blunder as £27m ace flying in WhoScored Team of 2020
There were plenty of fans who thought that Udinese midfielder Rodrigo de Paul was going to sign for Leeds United last summer.
After being strongly linked with a move to Leeds, the midfielder made it clear that he wanted a move to Elland Road with his social media activity.
However, a move didn’t materialise and while Victor Orta admitted Leeds had an interest in the player, he said the valuation of the player was too high:
“[De Paul] was one player we analysed but, in the end, the valuation of his club was at a level that was difficult for Leeds to reach, as a newly promoted club – not just for Leeds but a lot of clubs because, in the end, nobody took him, because of the evaluation of his club, which is fair.”
Sky Sports transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claimed that Leeds had bid more than once for De Paul in the summer, albeit nowhere near Udinese’s valuation.
Towards the tail-end of September, Athletic journalist Phil Hay wrote, “Victor Orta has been speaking to Udinese about midfielder Rodrigo De Paul but despite the Argentinian’s apparent interest in moving to Elland Road, Leeds are reluctant to meet his Italian club’s £35 million valuation and in two minds as to whether to persist with talks.
“Sources indicate that the signing of De Paul is still some way from crossing the line, if indeed it ever does.”
Some Leeds fans haven’t given up on landing the player. And the Serie A Team of the Year from WhoScored released on December 31 makes it clear that Leeds made a mistake not paying the money for De Paul and missed out on landing a serious talent.
De Paul lines up alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo in their best 11, with a season average rating of 7.56.
Leeds United definitely need cover in the midfield and De Paul can play through the middle and in a more attacking position, and even as a winger.
Could Leeds go back in for him in January?
That looks unlikely, with Leeds preferring to do big business in the summer window and warning fans that January will be quiet after spending £100m in the summer.
However, De Paul’s valuation, despite a stellar first half of the season, has dropped.
Corriere dello Sport, via Leeds Live, claim that he could be sold for £27m now, with the possibility of an 18-month loan deal with an obligation-to-buy agreement.
That might throw up similarities with the horror deal for Jean-Kevin Augustin, but the difference here is that De Paul is match fit and ready to play.
He’s a player that we’d still love to see at Elland Road.
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