A soap opera linking unsettled Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes with a move to Juventus is gathering momentum. According to Calciomercato, the record-time Italian champions are ready to lodge a formal offer for the Argentine playmaker.
With Paul Pogba sustaining a potentially long-term injury, Juventus are back in the market for a new midfielder to bolster their ranks. Miralem Pjanic has recently offered himself to the Bianconeri as part of his bid to reignite his career following a Barcelona nightmare.
But Juventus are looking for a more sustainable option, with Paredes’ emerging as Massimiliano Allegri’s number one target. The 28-year-old ‘regista’ is keen to return to Serie A after falling out of favour at the Parc des Princes.
Last season, Paredes made just 14 Ligue 1 appearances for PSG. A tumultuous campaign, highlighted by several nasty injuries, has seen the ex-Roma midfielder tumble down the pecking order in the French capital.
Not even the recent appointment of Christophe Galtier could be enough to rescue Paredes’ career in Paris. Yet, he is enthusiastic about the prospect of returning to Serie A with Juventus.
Unlike his PSG counterpart, Allegri can bring regular first-team football to the table. In the World Cup year, nothing is more important for Paredes than playing week in, week out to book his ticket for the Qatar showpiece. And he could achieve that at Juventus.
Adrien Rabiot, Arthur Melo and Manuel Locatelli performed in patches last season. Their problems with inconsistent performances mean Paredes could fit into Allegri’s set-up effortlessly next term.
Juventus want to take the Argentine star on loan with an option to buy. That may not go down well with PSG, given Paredes’ contractual status. With his deal running out in 2024, this is arguably their last opportunity to recoup the €47m they paid Zenit St Petersburg in January 2019.