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Tottenham: Paratici could pursue Paulo Dybala if Antonio Conte requests it
Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for soon-to-be free agent Paulo Dybala, but only if Antonio Conte asks for it.
That’s according to Football London’s Alasdair Gold, addressing Spurs supporters in a Q&A.
The lowdown
Dybala is expected to leave Juventus at the end of the season when his contract expires. Talks between the two parties over a new deal at the club’s Continassa headquarters broke down earlier this week.
Italian journalist Giancarlo Padovan subsequently claimed that Spurs are working to sign him on a free transfer.
Dybala has scored 113 goals and provided 48 assists in 283 appearances for Juventus, including 13 and six so far this season (via Transfermarkt).
The latest
Asked if a move for Dybala is ‘a real possibility’, Gold raised concerns about the player’s potential salary demands and his injury record (Football London).
He doesn’t think managing director of football Fabio Paratici is particularly ‘desperate’ to do a deal, but raises the possibility that Spurs could make an approach ‘because Antonio Conte has requested them to’.
The manager, though, may harbour some concerns himself about Dybala’s physical readiness.
Should Tottenham sign Dybala?
Yes
No
The verdict
The injury problems to which Gold refers are pretty severe.
Dybala has been sidelined for a total of 61 matches during his time in Turin, according to Transfermarkt records.
The issue appears to be frequency rather than severity – Dybala has encountered 17 separate issues, but only one has kept him out for more than eight matches. These sort of persistent problems often prove incredible frustrating for player, manager and fans.
As for wages, Dybala is currently earning in excess of £220,000 per week, which is only slightly more than Harry Kane (£200,000). But if he’s demanding a significant hike – as is often the case with free signings – then the deal may simply not be viable.
In other news, could this be a more realistic free agent signing?
