FC Barcelona have set their sights on Paulo Dybala, who could be on the verge of an exit from Juventus in the summer.
According to a report from Corriere Dello Sport, as relayed by Calciomercato, Juventus are considering a potential sale of Paulo Dybala in the upcoming transfer window. The Italian giants have been left frustrated with the attacker’s poor fitness record and could thus offload him at the end of the season.
It has reportedly put FC Barcelona on red alert, although it is believed that the Catalans cannot afford to sign Dybala due to their poor financial status. As such, there could be a potential swap deal between the two parties, with Antoine Griezmann being tipped as a potential candidate.
The Frenchman has struggled at Camp Nou since joining the club two years ago, failing to become an indispensable attacking outlet for Barcelona. However, he is highly valued by the Juventus board, who are preparing themselves for the worst, following an early exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of FC Porto.
Cristiano Ronaldo has already been linked with a move away from Turin – making Griezmann an appealing target for the Bianconeri. As for Dybala, his potential departure from the club should mark the end of a poor one and a half year spell that has seen him play very little football in Serie A.
Although Barcelona themselves are licking their wounds following their elimination from the Champions League, they could certainly consider making a move for the Argentine international. The move should appease his fellow countryman Lionel Messi, though the Barca icon is also facing an uncertain future at the club.
At the end of the day, a lot could depend on how the newly elected president Joan Laporta deals with Messi’s contract situation. His prolonged stay at the club is sure to stifle the club’s finances yet again, leaving the club to consider cheaper alternatives, including free agents like Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum.
On the flip side, though, Messi’s potential departure from Camp Nou could serve as a massive financial boost for Barcelona – perhaps even allowing them to fund moves for star players like Erling Haaland this summer.
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Either way, Dybala’s future seems bleak at the moment, not because of the uncertainty at Juventus but because of his own fitness problems. The Argentine has played under 700 minutes of league football so far this term, which is simply not enough if he is to attract a good suitor in the upcoming summer transfer window.
