Zenit raise Paredes price tag to €55m after PSG enter race — report

Chelsea’s search for a backup to Jorginho following Cesc Fàbregas’ departure to AS Monaco got several degrees harder (and many degrees more expensive) when Paris Saint-Germain entered the supposed race for Zenit St Petersburg, and former Empoli and Roma midfielder, Leandro Paredes.

Zenit, who may or may not be willing to let go of their highly talented midfielder, have taken the opportunity to raise their asking price from €40m to €55m, as per a report from L’Equipe (via Inside Futbol).

Paredes had supposedly agreed terms with Chelsea, but Zenit rejected Chelsea’s €35m bid. PSG then supposedly also agreed terms with the player, but also failed to convince Zenit with a €40m offer.

If Chelsea were to meet Zenit’s latest demands, we wound end up spending only about €10m less than we spent in the summer to take Jorginho from Napoli. No wonder Chelsea have developed second thoughts about this whole situation. And rightly so.