Tottenham Hotspur’s Paulo Dybala saga could be set for a renewal this summer, according to emerging reports…
What’s the word?
Italian outlet Calciomercato claimed that Juventus are ready to sell the Argentine forward after an injury-hit campaign at the Allianz Stadium, putting both Spurs and their Premier League rivals Chelsea on high alert.
The 27-year-old will be entering the final year of his current contract at the end of the season and sporting director Pavel Nedved remained coy on his future, telling DAZN (via Marca): “He has a contract for one more year and I have nothing more to add to what [Fabio] Paratici and president [Andrea] Agnelli have already said. But it is clear that at Juventus we evaluate every business opportunity.”
Spurs would be keen to sign him, but for no more than €45m (£38m) after having agreed on a deal for him back in 2019, only for it to collapse at the 11th hour due to controversy over his image rights.
Do you want Dybala at Spurs next season?
Yes please!
No thanks!
Imagine him & Ndombele
Indeed, Dybala has endured a tough season in Turin. Before suffering “a low-grade lesion of the medial collateral ligament of the left knee,” the Juventus attacker had only provided three goals and two assists in 16 appearances in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.
The long-standing Spurs target has not played since the start of January, when he was dealt the devastating injury blow, and it remains to be seen when he could return, having visited a specialist in Barcelona last month.
That said, one poor stop-start season doesn’t turn a superstar into a bad player overnight, especially as he is still their sixth-best rated player.
Last term, Dybala delivered a total of 31 goal contributions in 46 appearances (17 goals, 14 assists). Only a Harry Kane or Heung-min Son could put up anywhere near those returns, even less so with Juventus competing in the Champions League.
Former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey has often been left in awe by him since he swapped north London for Italy, telling The Athletic last year: “I can just confirm that Dybala is an unbelievable player. He’s very gifted — a team player — and some of the things he’s done in training and some of the games this season has been quite breathtaking.”
Spurs still lack a true number 10 to fill the void of Christian Eriksen – Giovani Lo Celso has spent large parts of 2021 on the treatment table, the future of Dele Alli under Jose Mourinho is rather dubious, whilst Tanguy Ndombele has formed quite the partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in a deeper role.
Perhaps the arrival of Dybala could help bring the best out of the box-to-box Frenchman. He is among Spurs’ most influential players in the final third, managing a total of 68 pressures, which is only behind Kane and Son, via FBRef.
Similarly, he tops the charts for successful dribbles (2.92) and is second for most touches per 90 in the middle third (40.7). He needs that extra presence in front of him to truly thrive, and this is where Dybala comes in.
Had he been at the club since 2019, then the loss of Eriksen may have not been so difficult. Daniel Levy cannot let him escape his grasp a second time – he must sanction a deal for the £54m-rated gem this summer.
Just imagine him alongside Ndombele and Hojbjerg.
AND in other news, “very exciting” Spurs gem can become Mourinho’s next William Gallas