Reports in Italy claim that Arsenal are keeping close tabs on AS Roma midfielder, Leandro Paredes and are keen to secure the services of the 22-year-old when the transfer window reopens in January.
Italian website, Tuttomercatoweb had run the story that the North London club had made contact with Roma and Arsene Wenger is determined to add the youngster to his squad. Even though the Gunners would ideally want to sign Paredes in January, the club are ready to wait till next summer to complete the deal.
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In spite of the fact that Arsenal have the likes of Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny in the squad, Arsene Wenger is keen on signing Paredes. If he moves to Arsenal, it will intensify the competition for places at the Emirates even more.
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The 22-year-old is a product of the Boca Juniors youth academy and moved to the Serie A on loan with Chievo in January 2014. He then secured a permanent move to Roma for around £5 million in the 2015 summer transfer window.
Paredes is a holding midfielder who has excellent vision and a wide range of passes. He also doesn’t lose possession cheaply and has the ability to break up play which makes him an asset to the current Roma squad. The Argentinian is also known for his prowess on the dead ball and is a reliable set-piece specialist. He spent the previous season on loan at Empoli making 33 appearances for the club and scoring twice.
The 22-year-old has taken full advantage of Miralem Pjanic leaving Roma for Serie A champions Juventus in June and has established himself as a regular in Luciano Spalletti’s side this season. He has made 16 appearances for the club in all competitions this season and has found the back of the net once. Paredes’ current contract with the club runs out only in June 2019 and so it will take a lucrative offer for the club to let him leave the Italian capital.
Liverpool and AC Milan were rumoured to be chasing the signature of the youngster during the summer. The Gunners were linked with a move for AC Milan’s prized asset Manuel Locatelli in the previous transfer window, who is a deep lying playmaker, but the deal didn’t materialise as Milan were reluctant to let go of the youngster. Hence, it is obvious that Arsene Wenger wants to bolster up his options at the centre of the pitch.
(Video courtesy: WorldOfFootball HD YouTube channel)
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