Arsenal and Manchester United have decided against making a summer move for Argentine international Paulo Dybala.
According to the Mirror, Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester United will not be making a move to land Paulo Dybala on a free transfer this summer.
The Argentine is running down his contract at Juventus and will be available on the Bosman market when the summer transfer window opens. One of the best players in Serie A, the chance to snap up the 28-year-old would appear to be a no-brainer for several teams.
Not so in England where Arsenal and Manchester United have chosen to look elsewhere. Dybala’s wage demands do not appear to have struck a chord at either the Emirates or Old Trafford. The South American ace is seeking £280,000-a-week in wages and would put a strain on the wage bills of the English giants.
Arsenal could do with a player of Dybala’s abilities for sure but the loss of the financial benefits of failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League will have some impact on their spending power. Mikel Arteta will need to ensure that his side can become regulars at Europe’s top table before going big on players.
If Arsenal were to meet Dybala’s demand, he would become the highest earner at the Emirates by some margin. He will overshadow Thomas Partey’s £200,000-a-week deal and could set a dangerous precedent for signing players in the future.
Manchester United too are in no strong position given their failure to qualify for the Champions League as well. With a huge rebuild on his hands, manager Erik ten Hag can not afford to let shell out huge wages on players who might not fit into his vision. The Red Devils have in recent years overpaid for certain players without largely reaping the benefits.
With several players leaving the club, Manchester United now have the opportunity to reduce their wage bill and instil a new culture at the club. It thus makes sense that they have decided against moving to sign Dybala.
At 28, Dybala is in the prime of his career and will be an asset for any team that lands him. However, it will not come cheap and whether they are ready to fork out the cash remains to be seen. As things stand, though, a move to a top Premier League side eems unlikely, with Tottenham Hotspur also cooling their interest in the Argentine international.
But, cash-rich Newcastle United could end up being Dybala’s next destination, with the Magpies already tabling a contract offer for him.