PSG‘s Leandro Paredes is set to complete a loan move to Juventus with an option for the Serie A side to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
The Argentinian will cost Juve around £12.7million (€15m), and although the two European powerhouses are still finalising the details on the move it will be completed on Saturday, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
It is thought that Paredes’ departure will allow the Parisians to move for Napoli’s Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz after several weeks of talks.
PSG’s Leandro Paredes is set to join Juventus on loan on Saturday, with a £12.7m buy option
The 28-year-old played 117 times for the club since his 2019 arrival
And though both Paredes and Ruiz operate in the centre of midfield, the more offensive Spaniard is not a like-for-like swap for the Argentinian, and the French side will therefore be left short in defensive midfield.
Danilo Pereira would be the only recognised senior deep-lying midfielder at the club, with former Everton disruptor Idrissa Gueye also capable.
Paredes had also been subject of interest from Manchester United earlier in the transfer window, with PSG then demanding £29.7m (€35m) for his services, and look to have lowered their valuation since then.
And despite a deal that runs until 2024, he has found himself under the umbrella of the “deadwood” that Luis Campos has been keen to shift from the club of late.
The 28-year-old joined the Ligue 1 side on a £36m deal back in 2019 from Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg, and has since contributed just three goals and 10 assists in what is a poor return on PSG’s heavy investment.
The defensive midfielder has played alongside Lionel Messi 51 times for PSG and Argentina
However having played 117 games for the club, he has been a major part in the sides that have won three Ligue 1 titles, three French Super Cups, two French Cups and a French League Cup.
But after long-term interest in Napoli’s Ruiz, the French giants will now look to find an agreement with the Italians in order to bring him to the Parc des Princes, after he refused to sign a contract extension with the Serie A side.
Now entering his fifth season at the Neapolitans, the 26-year-old midfielder has scored 22 goals and assisted 15 more in 166 games, becoming one of the club’s most important players.
He has also broken into the Spanish national side, playing 15 times for Las Rojas, though he is yet to feature since the 5-3 penalty shoot out loss to Italy at the European Championships in 2021.
In moving on Paredes, PSG will now be able to make an official move for Napoli’s Fabian Ruiz