Paulo Dybala
According to Sport Mediaset (h/t Daily Mail), Real Madrid are set to table a hefty £90million player-plus-cash deal for Juventus superstar Paulo Dybala.
The Argentine forward has been sensational form for Juventus this season, scoring 11 goals and providing as many assists, helping them to their 10th consecutive Serie A title.
A key player for Juventus since his move from Palermo back in 2015, Dybala has 95 goals and 38 assists from 228 matches across all competitions under his belt, making him one of the most sought-out players in Europe.
The report suggests that Real Madrid are ready to offer either Toni Kroos or Isco to tempt Juventus to let go of their star forward. Crucial players for the Spanish side in the last few years, Madrid value the 30-year-old Kroos at nothing less than £45million, while Isco is priced at around £54million.
Both their heavy price tags give a clear idea of their significance within the current Zinedine Zidane-led line-up. However, Madrid’s willingness to sell either of them also gives an insight into the club’s need for a new goal-scoring attacker in their ranks.
The departure of star-forward Cristiano Ronaldo two years back has seen the side rely on Karim Benzema in recent times. Though Benzema has been impressive, he is 32 now and it would better for them to look for young and new faces.
Apart from Benzema, Madrid do not have consistent goal-scorers in their midst, with backups Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz failing to impress so far. That said, Madrid’s attempt to lure Argentine forward Dybala looks like a step in the right direction.
Also, offering Isco or Kroos in the process is would not affect them much, with young midfielders such as Federico Valverde and Martin Odegaard waiting in the queue. Valverde has played a key role in helping Zidane lead his side to La Liga triumph this season after a period of three years, suggesting that the club’s future is secure after all.
He made 33 appearances in the league this season and has impressed with two goals and five assists, proving his worth in the current line-up. Odegaard, meanwhile, has returned to Madrid following the end of his loan spell with rivals Real Sociedad.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has been crucial to Sociedad’s rise to sixth place in the league table this season – their best finish in the last three years, suggesting that Madrid have enough talent in their ranks.
Considering all this, Madrid’s decision to spill the cash for Dybala by also offering one of their old guards seems like a wise move.
Real Madrid clearly have a dearth of established goal-scorers in their side and who better than Dybala, who has been proving it time and again with Juventus. Also, he offers the Galacticos a secure future as he still has plenty of football left in him.