Craig Scott

Sun 11 October 2020 13:10, UK

The Sun has interestingly reported that Leeds United “have been handed a boost” in their hunt to sign Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

As we’re sure most Leeds fans are aware, the Whites can no longer sign players from outside of England as the international transfer window closed on Monday.

However, ex-Udinese advisor Stefano Antonelli has since spoken out to say that the Serie A club know that De Paul, 26, no longer has a future there.

Antonelli told TuttoMercatoWeb, as translated by The Sun: “I have been working there for 21 years with continuity and I know the Pozzo family, they have always been a selling club.

“If they had the right offer they would have sold him because they know cycles end.

“They know De Paul’s cycle is over, but an offer never arrived.”

The Sun’s transfer blog then reported on Saturday [02:28pm] that Antonelli’s quotes serve as a boost for Leeds – but we assume they are talking about if the Whites are still pursuing De Paul in January.

De Paul has been one of the most talked-about transfer targets by Leeds fans since the end of last season but the Whites were unable to sign the Argentina international due to Udinese’s valuation of the player.

Sky Sports Italy journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Udinese want £36.8million (€40million) for the midfielder but TuttoUdinese journalist Stefano Pontoni reported that Marcelo Bielsa will do “anything” to sign him.

If Bielsa really would do “anything”, then waiting until January to sign him is certainly something he would do.

As we’ve seen with players like Ryan Kent and Harry Wilson in recent years, Bielsa can get transfixed on certain players.

Maybe it’s not over just yet in the case of De Paul and Leeds’ failure to sign a new central midfielder before the international deadline passed on Monday suggests there could be something in this down the line.

In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has reported a loan-to-buy deal is on the cards for a new central midfielder.