According to reports, Leeds are preparing a record-breaking transfer move for long-term target Rodrigo de Paul.

What's the story?

Reports last summer suggested that Leeds were very much interested in bringing the Argentina international to Elland Road, and The Athletic's Phil Hay recently indicated that the midfielder wants to come to Yorkshire.

The journalist added on The Phil Hay Show earlier this week: "I’m going to watch De Paul with great fascination like everybody else. I can’t help feeling that he is going to move somewhere this summer; I (was) watching some of the highlights of his assists and goals in Italy, and it just seems as if his time at Udinese must be at an end but still no suggestion that it’s going to be Leeds, but you live in hope, don’t you?"

Football Insider have now claimed that Marcelo Bielsa's side are laying down all the groundwork for a big-money move for one of their top targets, and that they are ready to pay a club-record fee to sign him this summer.

Bielsa will be buzzing

Given that Leeds wanted him last summer and are now intent on signing him again this time around, if a deal is done for De Paul, there's no doubt Bielsa will be absolutely buzzing with developments.

Speaking last summer, former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson talked up the prospect of the Argentine's arrival, saying: "Rodrigo De Paul can play across all of the midfield positions but he’s capable of unlocking doors like Hernandez. He’s a clever player, he can see a pass going forward and it just shows you the level the club are at that they’re going for players like this.

"They’re not afraid to be paying £20m-£30m for these sorts of players. It shows that Leeds are back in the big time and I have no doubt that footballers like De Paul will come to Leeds because of Bielsa."

De Paul has been described by his former manager Julio Velazquez as a player who “lacks absolutely nothing”, and the £34.2m-rated machine has shown this season what he could bring to the table if he joins Leeds - the box-to-box midfielder has scored eight goals and provided a further nine assists in 33 games in all competitions.

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After Hay's suggestion that there weren't too many signs pointing to Leeds signing De Paul, this latest update from Football Insider will be music to the ears of Bielsa and the club's fans.

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