Trabzonspor make approach for Paredes as Salah reunion moves closer

Trabzonspor have begun exploratory talks to sign Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes from Boca Juniors, in a move that could see him join Mohamed Salah in Turkey if the proposed transfer goes ahead.

Turkish website Haber61 reports that Trabzonspor have made their first official approach to establish the conditions of a deal for the 32-year-old, following the request of manager Fatih Tekke. Paredes is said to be more open to moving to Turkey than he has been in previous periods.

The midfielder is reportedly seeking wages of between 6m and 7m euros a year, while Boca Juniors are asking for about 10m euros to sanction his departure. Paredes’ contract with the Argentine club runs until December 2028.

Paredes has a particular connection with Egyptian football after playing a decisive role in Argentina’s elimination of Egypt from the 2026 World Cup. The two nations met in the last 16, with Argentina eventually progressing after a dramatic finish.

With the score level at 2-2 in the closing stages, Egypt launched a rapid counter-attack through Omar Marmoush. The forward attempted to find Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, who appeared to be running through one-on-one with Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Paredes read the pass at the crucial moment and intervened to cut it out. His tackle changed the course of the match, as Argentina immediately broke forward and Enzo Fernandez scored the winning goal.

Argentina went on to reach the quarter-finals and continued their run through to the final. In Egypt, Paredes became associated with the description “Marmoush’s conqueror” because his intervention denied the striker a major opportunity that could have altered the outcome of the game.

Trabzonspor’s interest comes as the Turkish club undergoes significant changes and attempts to build a team capable of competing strongly next season. The club have already succeeded in attracting global star Mohamed Salah and are also pursuing a move for Darwin Nunez.

According to Haber61, the scale of Trabzonspor’s project has helped make Paredes more receptive to the prospect of playing in Turkey, after he had previously been more cautious about such a move.

The club hope the presence of players of Salah and Nunez’s stature will help persuade Paredes to join. He would bring extensive international experience, having played in a Champions League final and established himself as an important member of the Argentina national team.

Paredes has enjoyed a settled spell with Boca Juniors this season. He has appeared in 18 Argentine league matches, scoring two goals and providing three assists.

He also played seven games for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup and was among the players who helped the holders reach the final.

Should Trabzonspor complete the deal, Paredes would have the opportunity to play alongside Salah at club level once again. His arrival would add another high-profile name to the Turkish club’s ambitious plans.