Manchester United have reportedly opened talks with Juventus and Argentina forward Paulo Dybala over the possibility of a transfer.
As per claims Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira, as carried by The Sun, Premier League giants Manchester United have made contact with Argentine superstar Paulo Dybala, as they look to sign him up from Juventus in the ongoing transfer window.
#ManchesterUnited and #PSG are interested in Paulo #Dybala. First contacts about his future. #Juventus want €80M at least to sell him, but he would like to stay. #transfers #MUFC
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) July 19, 2019
Dybala has established himself as one of the most exciting forwards across Europe during his time with Juventus. Having signed for the Bianconeri from fellow Serie A outfit Palermo in 2015, the 25-year-old has racked up 182 appearances for the club, netting 78 goals and assisting 30 more, winning four Serie A titles in the process.
The 2018-19 campaign though was a disappointing one on a personal note for Dybala. The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid saw the Argentine’s game time reduce dramatically as former manager Massimiliano Allegri struggled to find a way to utilize the duo together. Dybala ended with a return of 10 goals and 5 assists from 42 matches in all competitions.
This had led to question marks over the Argentine international’s future at Juventus, piquing the interest of Manchester United, who are on the lookout for a new forward. The Red Devils could potentially lose star striker Romelu Lukaku this summer, amid serious interest from Inter Milan, which could lead them to seek a replacement for the Belgian.
While academy product Mason Greenwood has impressed heavily in the pre-season campaign, Manchester United are likely to want to add a more accomplished forward to their roster in the summer and slowly integrate the youngster into the ranks over the course of the season. And this makes Dybala a viable target, despite his disappointing season last time out.
To that end, the 20-time English champions are reported to have made contact with Dybala’s camp enquiring the possibility of a summer move to Old Trafford. However, the report adds that Manchester United have been met with a rejection as the 25-year-old intends to stay with Juventus.
Dybala, despite his struggles last season, is believed to be keen on proving himself to newly-appointed manager Maurizio Sarri. The Argentine is hoping that he can re-establish himself as a pivotal member of the team in the upcoming campaign under the former Chelsea boss, whose style of play may suit him more.
This is likely to come as a blow for Manchester United as they have held a long-standing interest in securing the services of Dybala. However, there could be a possibility where the Red Devils do end up signing him, as Juventus are reportedly open to the prospect of using the 25-year-old as a makeweight in their attempt to re-sign Paul Pogba from United.
Dybala still has three years left on his contract with Juventus. With Sarri taking over the reins at the club, the Argentine is likely to want to stay and prove himself to the new manager, meaning a transfer to Manchester United this summer seems like a distant possibility.