Rodrigo De Paul is still joining Leeds United according to a host of outlets on British shores and abroad. In fact, the Argentine has been at the 11th hour of a transfer from Udinese for the best part of 12 months.
Very few transfer rumours have lived a life as long as that one and the sooner he does get the departure he wants from the Pozzo family outfit, the better for all of us and our sanity.
The story, or lack thereof, is a symptom of a plight the Whites have long grappled with. This is a club with the clout and the reputation to drive prices up in the transfer market.
If the latest speculation around De Paul’s €40m move to Atletico Madrid is true then once more the tactic in using United’s name has worked.
This is not a trend which began with promotion back to the Premier League and the endless millions agents and sellers know United potentially have at their disposal.
It was like this in the Championship too, just with lower quality players. Leeds United will always be a club name used to drive up prices, even when interest is limited at best.
One of the best recent examples emerged in mid-April when the Whites were inexplicably linked with a summer move for Sampdoria’s centre-back Omar Colley.
A centre-back. Leeds already have four stellar central defenders scraping for two slots in a squad which Marcelo Bielsa wants to keep tight for fear of too many players missing out every weekend.
It’s a tactic used in every transfer window to instigate other clubs into mobilising and making bids for wantaway players and their agents.
Last summer, in the transfer window after promotion, Leeds were linked with what felt like every one of the best players who would not be featuring in the top flight.
Eberechi Eze, Todd Cantwell, Emi Buendia and Michael Olise were all names connected with transfers to Elland Road.
There will be a flood of new names this summer with Leeds one of the stories of the season. Their ninth-place finish, San Francisco 49ers investment and head coach make them one of the most appetising destinations in the division.
Just remember, Victor Orta and co. are only after three or four senior names at most.
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