Liverpool Are Right To Chase Juve’s Paulo Dybala
In these days of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, it’s understandable that many a team would look at Juventus signing Cristiano Ronaldo for around £100m as an opportunity to raid the Italian champions and improve their own squad.
The Ronaldo deal seems to have piqued Liverpool’s interest in Argentine forward Paulo Dybala, with reports suggesting that the Anfield club could be willing to pay around £80m for the player’s services this summer.
Dybala has certainly been Juve’s star player in recent seasons but his nose could be out of joint now that the Turin club have splashed out a fortune to bring in the Portuguese superstar.
At the World Cup in Russia, Paulo spent most of his time on the bench looking on as Lionel Messi was once again Argentina’s talisman. The twenty-four year old probably won’t want to be placed behind Ronaldo’s shadow at Juve.
If Ronaldo’s arrival has cast any doubts in Dybala, then Liverpool should definitely make a move.
Dybala is a fantastic talent and one of those forward players that seems to be on the cusp of being a world class star.
In his three seasons at Juve, Paulo has grabbed fifty-two Serie A goals and twenty-one assists.
His goalscoring record is particularly strong when you consider he plays mainly as an attacking midfielder. These stats back-up the fact that the former Palermo man is a composed finisher and has a keen eye for a key pass. Elements that would show up well in Jurgen Klopp’s current Liverpool set-up.
He’s a technically gifted player, has great close control and a wonderful dribbling skillset. The attacker is also a fine set-piece taker and can also hold the ball up in tight situations.
Ultimately Paulo Dybala is a player on the rise and has the ability to create and score a bundle of goals. He’d be a sublime talent that would certainly enhance the Reds starting eleven.
Now I should add caution, I don’t think it’s a certainty that he’ll leave the Italian giants this summer.
Going back to Uefa’s FFP and La Vecchia Signora could sell a few other players and that would solve those financial fair play issues.
Chelsea could be a big help in this case.
The London club have been heavily linked with two Juve stars during this transfer window.
It’s been suggested that they’re very close in wrapping up a deal for defender Daniele Rugani. The Italian centre-back failed to really establish himself as a top defender last term and it could be ideal to sell him for £35m this summer.
You then have striker Gonzalo Higuian, and he’s the most likely to be directly impacted by Cristiano’s arrival in Italy. Ronaldo will be played as the main forward and that’s the position of Higuain. The thirty year old moved to Serie A because he couldn’t fit into the same team as Ronaldo at Real Madrid, so I doubt he’ll fair any better this time around. Chelsea are supposedly lurking and ready to make €60m move for the hitman.
Those two possible transfers out to Chelsea could see Juve recoup most of that fee they’ve just paid out on their new number seven. Others like Juan Cuadrado, Marko Pjaca and Alex Sandro have also been linked with moves away from the Allianz Stadium.
Then there’s the fact that I think Juve boss Massimilano Allegri might fancy playing Ronaldo and Dybala together in the same team.
While everyone and their auntie compares Cristiano and Messi, the fact is the two are very different footballers. Messi and Dybala pick-up certain areas of the field and they can end up in the same space. Yet Ronaldo, especially now, is more about hanging around the penalty area.
Allegri could see Dybala as a perfect partner for Ronaldo, the Argentine could provide the right passes to create glorious chances for the new megabucks signing. In return, Paulo could learn a lot from his new world class teammate and that could take Paulo Dybala into the same kind of level as Messi and Ronaldo.
It should also be noted that the Argentine was quick to post a welcoming message to his new teammate:
Bienvenido @Cristiano ! Benvenuto! Bem-vindo!#CristianoRonaldo #cr7 #juventus #cr7juve #FinoAllaFine pic.twitter.com/8MNcNrC8aW
— Paulo Dybala (@PauDybala_JR) 10 July 2018
Juventus last season played in a 4-2-3-1 formation in a lot of their games and Dybala shone in the number ten role. It seems natural that Ronaldo would come in and take up the lone striker’s position.
Ultimately Liverpool are right to enquire about Paulo Dybala’s availability, it’s prudent to ask and make sure you’re first in line in case Juventus are willing to sell such a sublime talent. I’m just not convinced he’ll leave Turin this summer.
Posted on July 11th, 2018 by scott
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