Liverpool have been linked with a move for a £15M-rated midfielder who finds himself on the fringes at his current club.
With the Reds dealing with up to 10 first-team injuries, their midfield has suffered with up to four central midfielders out injured.
Throw in fan unrest over their stuttering start to the season and you have a club that may be forced into signing a new midfielder with less than 10 days left in the window.
One player who could emerge as a target is PSG’s Leandro Paredes – who has found himself on the fringes of the team and would be available at a fair price.
https://twitter.com/AnfieldFootball/status/1562046009282273281?s=20&t=ArYTsvVJUWqA7Xqg0KXnhQ
Latest reports on Leandro Paredes
Paredes, 28, has been linked with a move to Liverpool by Cmdotcom, as they look to boost their midfield options before the window shuts.
Valued at £15.3M, the Argentinian has found himself out of the first team thanks to the arrival of Vitinha, who joined this summer.
Marco Verratti is also a first-choice pick in midfield with Paredes now demoted to a backup.
One issue for the Reds would be his wages – as he currently earns around £173k-a-week which would see him become one of the side’s highest earners if he joined.
No doubt he’s a gifted and experienced midfielder but there are cheaper and younger options on the market.
If Liverpool wanted to bring in experience and cover for Fabinho then Paredes would be that signing – but it remains to be seen what age profile the side could move for given that the current situation is one of desperation due to injuries.
Paredes would bring midfield control but there are question marks over his wages, playing time and age for now.
Leandro Paredes vs Real Madrid. Baller. pic.twitter.com/0mxn3nxzm9
— Van Aert🇨🇵 (@AdlTS2) February 18, 2022
How would he fit in?
Paredes is a deep-lying midfield who has a wonderful passing range and vision – the only player who compares in the current Liverpool midfield is Thiago.
We know Thiago’s injury issues and that he can only really start somewhere between 17-24 games per season and when he’s not playing, there isn’t the same midfield control.
Paredes can offer that in abundance but would have to quickly adapt to the PL.
His stats show he’s in the 99th percentile for passes and passes completed and the 93rd percentile for assists per 90 and he’s statistically similar to Jorgino, Marcelo Brozovic and João Moutinho.
He would offer control in the middle of the park, but he only registers in the 7th percentile for pressures which means he would have to take a deeper role in midfield.
Leandro Paredes Heat-Map 2021/22 Ligue 1 – @SofaScore
He’s also a feisty tackler as well, averaging 2.46 tackles per 90 and 1.64 interceptions which don’t rank too high compared to other DM’s but PSG dominate the ball for long periods and he has less of a defensive load than someone else in the same position.
However, he does rank much higher than Jordan Henderson for example in that department.
Playing as a deep midfielder, Klopp could opt for a move to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Paredes, with Henderson also capable of playing that role.
Or he could be the backup for Fabinho.
Although it’s not clear if Paredes would switch from being a second-choice at PSG to a second-choice at Liverpool.
Overall, he’s a vastly experienced midfielder who’s won trophies and played at big clubs.
However, at 28, there are better options out there and he missed 20 games through injury last season.
