Manchester United have failed with a player-plus-cash bid to sign Juventus’ Paulo Dybala next month. The Argentina international has emerged as the prime target for Jose Mourinho, who is aiming to bring in a specialist player in the number 10 position.
According to The Sun, the Serie A champions have turned a £70m bid from the Red Devils for Dybala, which includes the out-of-favour Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a makeweight. The report adds that the Bianconeri are not in need of a new wide player, but they are prepared to re-negotiate a straight cash deal, should United match their £86m asking price for Dybala.
Despite Jesse Lingard’s prowess this term, there has been a lot of inconsistency in the final third, and Mourinho appears to have set his sights on pursuing an attacker with international recognition. Dybala, who is often likened to compatriot Lionel Messi, is exceptional with his dribbling skills on his day, whilst he has also contributed towards the goal count with his added ability to try long shots.
The former Palermo man started the season in a flourish with a couple of hat-tricks to his name, but he has recently found himself on the substitutes’ bench with Max Allegri relating the decision to the Argentine’s commitment in training.
The United hierarchy are deemed to have pulled out of the pursuit of Antoine Griezmann owing to his hefty £86m price tag, and it will be interesting to see whether they would be willing to pay a similar fee for Dybala, who is a couple of years younger than the Frenchman, and can offer more playing in a central attacking role. Dybala has amassed 15 goals in 25 outings for Juventus this term.
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