Tottenham are in discussions over a move for Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, according to Football.London.
The Argentine is understood to be valued at around £80 million by the Italian giants, with Mauricio Pochettino said to be a great admirer of his compatriot.
Any deal for the 25-year-old would break Spurs’ transfer record for a second time this summer, after the £63 million acquisition of Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon.
The report suggests that the club have a “serious interest” in making a move for the star.
TiF Tactics – What would signing Dybala mean for Tottenham?
For one thing, were Spurs to actually pull this off, it would almost certainly signify a change in shape for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
According to Transfermarkt, the Argentine generally prefers to play a lone striker through the middle, and that was certainly the case last season.
Even with Harry Kane sidelined for large spells, Pochettino opted for either Fernando Llorente, or even more interestingly, Lucas Moura in an advanced role.
Signing Dybala would surely change that.
While he may not be an out and out centre forward, a quick look at the 25-year-old’s stats show that he is certainly more of an orthodox striker than somebody like Dele Alli, for instance.
His average of 2.2 shots per game and 1.7 successful dribbles per match last term [Whoscored] show a player who is direct and threatening. Compared to Alli’s 1.6 shots and 1.2 dribbles in the Premier League, the contrast is clear [Whoscored].
Dybala could herald the start of an era utilising two up top.
Likely to happen?
The signs are certainly promising.
You feel as if Spurs probably have one more big signing in them this summer, and judging by this report, they are very keen on Dybala.
Pochettino is a fan, and the 25-year-old seems to have struggled a little since Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at Juve last season.
£80 million is a lot of money, but for a player like the Argentine, it looks like a steal.
There a number of other clubs said to be interested, including the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and PSG, but Spurs are an elite side now, and they offer an opportunity to play in the best stadium in the world with one of the most exciting young coaches in the European game.