Chelsea? PSG? Man City? Assessing the best option for Paulo Dybala
Paulo Dybala is a number of high profile players out of contract at the end of the season and as reports that the Argentine has rejected Juventus' latest offer to extend his stay in Turin circulate, the vultures are expected to circle before too long. Now 28, Dybala will want to pen a new deal with a club that'll play to his strengths and to be paid handsomly too.
There are a number of potential suitors for the Argentine and we take a look at possible destinations for Dybala this summer.
Manchester City already have one Argentine set to return to the Etihad Stadium in the summer with Julian Alvarez spending the rest of the European season on loan with River Plate to garner regular minutes. In addition, City are expected to chase Erling Haaland in the summer as they look to secure a big money striker, yet if a deal can't be struck for the free-scoring Norwegian, then might the the Premier League leaders turn their attention to Paulo Dybala?
What makes City work well in attack is that their goals can come from any player. Only Liverpool (75) have scored more goals than City (68) in England's top tier this term, while their joint-top Premier League scorers are Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, with 10 a piece. 16 players in total have scored a Premier League goal for Manchester City this season, and a striker of Dybala's approach may well suit their style that sees the wingers cut inside to add an additional goal threat as the full-backs push forward.
A withdrawn style would open space for the widemen to put opponents to the sword, while Dybala has the ability to get on the end of chances the the City support would undoubtedly create for him having netted eight times in Serie A this season. Of course, City will want to focus their efforts on bringing in a natural goalscorer in Haaland, but Dybala is a solid alternative, even if not of the same mould.
If ever a team was willing to make a statement signing to cover the impending exit of Kylian Mbappe, then PSG may look to lure Dybala to Paris this summer. With Mbappe expected to depart for Real Madrid at the end of the season, the Argentine would be a high profile capture to help ease his departure.
Money would be no issue for PSG, though whether the French side will want to spend big wages on a 28-year-old injury prone Argentine is another matter entirely. That said, PSG's Argentine contingent is one that would help Dybala settle with Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes on the books, the trio managed by compatriot Mauricio Pochettino, for now at least!
Mbappe and Dybala may be two different forwards, but the latter would at least go some way to getting the fans back on side in the wake of the former's likely departure for Los Blancos.
Juventus and Inter's rivalry is well documented as one of the most intense in Italy and fans of the former would be gutted to see Dybala move to the latter. He wouldn't be the first player to play for both teams, with the likes of Christian Vieri, Edgar Davids and Leonardo Bonucci among those to have turned out for both the Old Lady and the Nerazzurri.
If Dybala were to stay in Italy, then Inter would be a viable destination for the player. He'd burn his bridges in Turin, yet a move to Milan would see him link up with compatriot Lautaro Martinez in a potentially ruthless duo at the Giuseppe Meazza. Edin Dzeko hasn't exactly underwhelmed following his summer arrival from Roma, but at 36 years of age, Inter can't rely on the experienced Bosnian for the long-term.
Dybala has excelled in the league after breaking onto the scene in 2012 and a striker who knows Serie A well would certainly aid Inter in the long run. Whether they can afford his wages, it remains to be seen, but they do have a number of big earners whose contracts are expiring this summer, which would aid any possible pursuit of Dybala.
🇮🇹 Only Domenico Berardi (7.53) has a better WhoScored rating than Paulo Dybala (7.41) in Serie A this season
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 21, 2022
😱 He will leave Juventus on a free transfer this summer, per @romeoagresti pic.twitter.com/InW09cxGvT
Tottenham came close to signing Paulo Dybala in 2019, but an issue with image rights derailed the deal. Spurs, though, may come back in for 28-year-old this summer and, even with elite competition for his services, there is a chance, no matter how slim, they could land the striker.
Fabio Paratici was part of the Juventus hierarchy when they signed Dybala in 2015. Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, who have gone on to become key men under Antonio Conte at Tottenham following their respective January arrivals from Juventus, could prove influential in their possible pursuit of Dybala, while compatriot Cristian Romero is another who may talk highly of the north London side when the Argentine pair link up with La Albiceleste this month. Even with his two-match ban, the centre-back has made Lionel Scaloni's squad with the hope that'll be reduced to one game.
Nevertheless, with Conte admitting he is looking to bring in proven winners, Dybala ticks the boxes. He has 13 winners' medals to his name during his time in Italy and would provide support, and cover, for Harry Kane in attack. A chequered injury history could deter Spurs, while the Argentine's wages will put him in the higher earners bracket in north London, but if the club are looking to take the next step under Conte, then they need to be doing all they can to convince players of Dybala's ilk to move to Hotspur Way.
Now, much of this is hindering on Roman Abramovich's sale of the club, which could prove a lengthy process. This means that, due to his sanctioning by the UK government, Chelsea are unable to make moves in the market, nor renew contracts of current players, but, hypothetically speaking, if the sale is fast-tracked, then could the Blues make a move for Dybala?
Chelsea have spent big on Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku in recent years, and it's only now that fans are starting to see the best of big money 2020 arrival Kai Havertz. Injuries to key defensive personnel, notably Reece James and Ben Chilwell, means Thomas Tuchel has reverted to a four-man backline in recent months, yet in a three-man defence, which sees Tuchel use two attackers in support of the striker, there may be a place in the XI for Dybala.
He works best in a supporting role alongside a more physically imposing frontman, which in this case, would be Havertz. Considering their goal woes - Mason Mount, with eight goals, is their top scorer in the league, while Werner, Havertz and Lukaku have scored just 12 between them this season - Dybala could prove a smart addition, provided they are able to compete for his services.
Barcelona would have previously been a viable destination for Dybala, but the January arrivals of Ferran Torres, Adama Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, coupled with Ousmane Dembele's rejuvenation, means the Blaugrana are unlikely to make their move for the Juventus man. Real Madrid are hellbent on Kylian Mbappe, so Atletico Madrid may yet prove a next port of call for the Argentina international.
Luis Suarez's Atletico deal expires in the summer and while he hasn't featured prominently for Diego Simeone's side, only Angel Correa (11) has scored more league goals than the Uruguayan (9) for Los Colchoneros this season, and will need replacing. Of course, Simeone is blessed with an abundance of attacking talent, with Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann additional forward options for the Atletico boss.
That said, Simeone favours a system with two strikers, so there would be a spot for Dybala in the Atletico squad. He may not have the same goalscoring instinct as Suarez, yet he'd be a statement capture that would allow Atleti to remain competitive in both domestic and continental competition.
Conclusion
Paulo Dybala will have his pick of the clubs in the summer as potential suitors seek to land a top quality star without having to spend big on a transfer fee. Spells on the sidelines means he has featured in just 43% of Serie A games for Juventus since the start of last season, but now out of the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo; he is thriving for the Old Lady.
Only Domenico Berardi (7.53) has earned a better WhoScored rating than Dybala (7.41) in Italy's top tier this term as he continues to shine for Max Allegri's side. Nevertheless, given his injury history, playing for a high octane, demanding coach would likely limit his game time unless managed properly. That would theoretically rule out Tottenham and Atletico Madrid, while PSG would perhaps be the wrong fit for Dybala.
Manchester City are likely to focus their attention on Erling Haaland, which leaves Inter and Chelsea as perhaps the more viable destinations for Dybala. The latter's financial issues rules them out for the time being, which leaves Inter. It's a move that won't sit well with the Bianconeri, yet now free to negotiate with potential suitors, Dybala could yet cross the great divide between Turin and Milan in a move that would suit both player and Inter.
