According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea are considering the possibility of signing Leandro Paredes from Paris Saint-Germain as an alternative to their primary target, Moises Caicedo.
The Blues are currently in need of a defensive midfielder and have been pursuing Caicedo as their top choice. However, negotiations with Brighton have been challenging, as the club is demanding a hefty £100 million fee for the Ecuadorian player.
Due to the prolonged talks and Brighton’s reluctance to sell, the Blues are now exploring the option of securing Paredes as a potential alternative.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino considers Caicedo as his top priority target for the team. However, he acknowledges that a deal may not come to fruition, and as a backup option, he is interested in bringing in Paredes, whom he previously worked with at PSG.
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Paredes had a loan spell with Juventus in the last season, but his time with the Italian club was challenging.
Despite making 25 appearances in Serie A, he started only eight games and featured in four Champions League matches, struggling to make a significant impact for the Bianconeri.
Nevertheless, Pochettino remains open to the idea of adding his fellow countryman to Chelsea’s squad.
Paredes did not have his move made permanent by the Turin club. As a result, he has returned to PSG but is currently training separately from the first team as he looks for a transfer away from the Ligue 1 champions.
With just one year left on his contract, the midfielder is considered an affordable option for Chelsea. Aside from the Argentine star, Chelsea are also considering two other players for their defensive midfield position.
They have an interest in Leeds United star Tyler Adams, who had an impressive season in the Premier League and performed well in the 2022 World Cup.
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Furthermore, the Blues have been pursuing Edson Alvarez as a long-term target for their midfield reinforcement.
Chelsea had an interest in signing Alvarez last summer, but Ajax were not willing to sell the player at that time. However, this summer, they are more open to the idea of a sale, and there were advanced negotiations for Alvarez’s move to Borussia Dortmund.
Unfortunately, the deal fell through, leaving the door open for Chelsea to potentially revive their pursuit of the midfielder.
