Pochettino puts world-class star on Chelsea wish list with attacker available for just over £10m
Chelsea have become contenders to activate the release clause of Roma attacker Paulo Dybala, according to an Italian reporter.
Dybala is available to clubs outside Italy for a fee of €12m (£10.3m) this month due to a release clause in his contract. He has only spent one season at Roma after joining them on a free transfer from Juventus last summer.
The inclusion of the exit clause was one of the ways Roma were able to convince a Champions League-calibre player to drop down to Europa League level.
However, while it is active in July, it leaves them at serious risk of losing Dybala. He has already been linked with some suitors in Saudi Arabia, but he could continue his career in Europe.
Dybala has never played in the Premier League before, but there have been plenty of historic links that he could. Now, Chelsea may be able to finally provide him with that platform.
According to respected Italian journalist Matteo De Santis, Chelsea have added Dybala to their transfer shortlist under the orders of Mauricio Pochettino.
The Blues are currently evaluating the idea of adding Dybala to their squad. No Chelsea player scored double figures of goals last season; Dybala, in contrast, got 18 for Roma.
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As things stand, the Europa League finalists are not particularly concerned about the threat of Chelsea, De Santis has concluded. However, there is plenty of time for them to be anxious before the clause lapses.
Roma could even lose Dybala to a Serie A rival for a slightly higher – but still relatively cheap – release clause of €20m (£17.1m).
Dybala to join Fernandez and Pochettino at Chelsea?
After becoming a World Cup winner with Argentina in December (alongside Enzo Fernandez, who subsequently joined Chelsea from Benfica), Dybala could theoretically link up with his compatriot Pochettino at Chelsea. The former Tottenham manager has begun his new job after taking the reins from Frank Lampard.
Last season, Chelsea struggled to rely on anyone up front. They have already added Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig and Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal in an attempt to address those issues.
Dybala largely plays as a supporting striker, which has usually been behind ex-Chelsea frontman Tammy Abraham for Roma. That won’t be the case next season even if Dybala stays in Rome, since Abraham is out until around March with an ACL injury.
Dybala, also formerly of Instituto and Palermo, can play as a centre-forward in his own right. But he certainly isn’t a target man.
Chelsea last bought a player from Roma back in January 2018, when they acquired Emerson Palmieri. Half a year earlier, they had taken fellow defender Antonio Rudiger from the same club.
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is, of course, in charge of Roma at present. He has led the Italian club to consecutive European finals, with a 50-50 success rate.
Dybala was named in the Europa League squad of the season for his contributions last season. If he was to join Chelsea, though, there wouldn’t be any European football on offer after their disappointing 12th-place finish.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are also said to be eyeing a signing from Roma’s rivals Lazio.
