Liverpool are reportedly prepared to pay €100m for Paulo Dybala, a player heavily linked with Arsenal in recent windows.
Wednesday’s edition of Sport claim that the Anfield side would be willing to meet Juventus’s asking price, however the 24-year-old seems like he could be heading to Atletico Madrid after a recent meeting there.
They build their report on claims from the Guardian.
Reports last month claimed that Diego Simeone met with Paulo Dybala to sound him out about a move to La Liga to replace Antoine Griezmann who is expected to leave this summer for Barcelona.
The meeting between Simeone, the player, his representative and brother, lasted an hour while they ate at Los Arroces de Segis, a restaurant in Madrid.
Dybala is said to have been dreaming of playing in La Liga for a number of years and Atletico Madrid need to know if Juventus will sell the player they signed from Palermo for £36m for under €100m – the amount they expect to get for Griezmann.
Mundo Deportivo previously reported that Manchester United have already tabled an offer for Dybala but he is said to prefer a move to Spain.
Last summer, when Arsenal were being linked with Dybala like Harry Kane and every goal every scored in the history of football, the Gunners reportedly withdrew when Dybala’s price reached £124m.
Before signing Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal made it clear that they were in the market for an attacking player and then-23-year-old Dybala, who’s seen as one of the most exciting forwards in Europe, was on their radar. However, while Arsene Wenger was apparently willing to splash £124m on Mbappe, he wasn’t on Dybala.
Speaking recently, Arsene Wenger also confirmed that the club are not likely to buy any more forwards in the upcoming window. This, of course, does not mean that Arsenal won’t buy any attacking players.
After spending over £100m on Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they are highly unlikely, however, to splash another €100m on an attacker, even one as talented as Dybala.
A tricky player to shift off the ball, Dybala is tireless both in and out of possession. His admirable work rate mean defenders are constantly on edge wherever he’s around, and he anticipates potential situations seconds before others realise the danger.
High levels of agility and composure allow him to drive forward with the ball to an extent where he effortlessly dribbles with pace for sustained periods.
Before moving to Juventus, Dybala said about Arsenal, “Whenever people speak well of me, I’m filled with pride.
“I will not deny that going to Arsenal and playing in the Premier League would be amazing. However, I am aware that my reality right now is Palermo.”
Perhaps his heart isn’t set on Spain completely, after all…