Manchester City Can Land Juventus Star On A Free Transfer: The Perfect Signing For Pep? | OneFootball

Recent reports from Italian media outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia) state that Manchester City are keen on signing Juventus centre-forward Paulo Dybala in the summer transfer window as Pep Guardiola looks set to add more firepower to his attacking options.

Paulo Dybala had reportedly agreed to renew his expiring contract (€7.3m-a-year) at the Allianz Stadium with a bumper €10 million-a-year offer; however, the latest reports have revealed that Juventus are planning to change the terms of the agreement in their next meeting with Dybala in February. On the back of a €210 million loss for the 2020-21 campaign, they might offer a 15% pay cut to each one of their six players (Paulo Dybala, Juan Cuadrado, Federico Bernardeschi, Mattia De Sciglio, Mattia Perin and Carlo Pinsoglio) whose contracts are set to expire in June.

On the other hand, Manchester City are planning to offer him the same €10 million-a-year deal to secure his services ahead of the other competitors like Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Dybala’s 2021/22 Season In Numbers

Paulo Dybala signed for Juventus from Palermo for a fee in the region of €40 million in the summer of 2015. Over the course of the last six seasons, the Argentine international has featured 277 times for the black and whites, netting 111 goals and 46 assists across all competitions.

Juventus’ Argentine forward Paulo Dybala looks on during the Italian Serie A football match between Juventus and Udinese on January 15, 2022 at the Juventus stadium in Turin. (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)

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Even this term, he has managed to put up some awe-inspiring numbers on the board – averaging 3.9 shots, 1.6 key passes, 1.9 dribbles, 0.8 crosses, and 2.6 long balls per 90 minutes in the Italian top-flight (calculated across 17 appearances). Furthermore, with an average WhoScored rating of 7.43, he has been one of the best players on his side thus far.

Capable of playing as a centre-forward or a secondary-striker, the 28-year-old would be a natural fit to Guardiola’s false-nine system. He might as well help fill the void that Sergio Aguero’s departure has left behind.

The Perfect Signing For Pep?

At present, Manchester City are without the services of a natural number nine, so signing someone of Dybala’s calibre would make perfect sense. The personal terms should not be an issue either, as the Citizens are heavily blessed with finances. Besides, the signing would lead to a healthy competition between him and City’s latest signing, Julian Alvarez.

Hence, Guardiola should go all in to secure La Joya’s signature in summer.

(Stats from WhoScored)