Why Manchester United should be going all in for Paulo Dybala

Situations can change in football in a short flurry. Two moments should stand out in the minds of Manchester United fans, those being: Real Madrid’s late offer for David de Gea, which, in turn, caused the paperwork for the proposed transfer to fall by the wayside of the deadline and breakdown; and when Atlético Madrid were notified that their summer transfer ban is still taking place, causing Antoine Griezmann to change his mind in joining José Mourinho’s team.

Wind forward eight months and it appears more than likely that Griezmann will end up joining Catalonian giants Barcelona this summer, instead of the Red Devils. It is perhaps a bit of both the club moving on from the French international, as well as the player finding it very difficult to reject Barça calling.

With Zlatan Ibrahimović leaving the club in the summer, most probably for American life, Mourinho will be keen to add another forward to United’s squad. While they have signed Alexis Sánchez, who can play through the middle, the Portuguese boss’ preferred role for the Chilean is out wide with the view of cutting inside.

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That leaves a centre forward-type role for a new player coming into the squad. One of the obvious choices is Juventus starlet Paulo Dybala. The Argentine impressed once again last week in the Champions League, where he scored the goal – expertly finished into the top corner – that took last year’s runner ups into the quarter finals.

The 24-year-old has had a tumultuous season, appearing in and out of the starting XI under Massimiliano Allegri, but does have 19 goals and five assists in his 32 appearances so far. Dybala is one of the hottest prospects in European football, with a whole host of clubs interested in him, but very few can compete with Manchester United’s vast amount of wealth and willingness to break the bank.

If any potential deal was to come to fruition, Romelu Lukaku would still be United’s main centre forward. Dybala would come in as a secondary striker, just sitting on the shoulder of the Belgian, posing a threat in between the lines as he does for the Bianconeri. The Argentina international is fantastically evasive with the ball and even without it – his positional awareness makes him incredibly difficult to mark.

While some might argue that Dybala does not have the physicality acquired to be a successful attacking option in the Premier League, you only need to look at David Silva to see that is a fallacy. Arguably Manchester City’s greatest ever player, the Spaniard continues to be an influential member of the champions-elect’s squad, and punishes teams with the flicker of his left foot. He is not named the Spanish wizard for nothing.

Not everything in English football is revolved around the strength and physical aspect of players. United have that edge with Lukaku, who has shown on a regular occurrence how he can shrug defenders off with ease and cause havoc in the air, but they now need a magician in the middle, someone to pick out the delicate, intricate pass that is going to carve open defences.

Dybala wouldn’t be signed just to assist the goals, but instead as another prong to United’s attack in scoring them. The Red Devils have four players on 10 goals and more for the season – Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Lukaku – and so another player who can be added to that group of players would be beneficial, especially when Manchester City have five forwards on over that with a higher rate of scoring.

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For most South Americans, the pull of Barcelona or Real Madrid is usually too strong and is their preferred destination; but it looks as if Barça are more interested in Griezmann for the summer, while Los Blancos will try everything for a new number nine – most probably Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.

Manchester United have lacked fluidity in the final third at times this season, something in which a player of Dybala’s calibre would certainly bring. As seen for Juventus, the Argentine’s first instinct is to get other players into the game, creating space and releasing the right pass at the right time.

But possibly Dybala’s biggest strength and asset is his ability to understand, interpret and act upon the game unfolding in front of him. He is a pragmatist that Mourinho would certainly appreciate. The run in-behind Tottenham’s defence at Wembley was perfectly timed, but to also keep the composure in beating Hugo Lloris, in front of 84,000 fans, and fire the ball into the top corner shows he can handle the biggest moments.

It will not be easy to acquire him from the clutches of Juventus, and the club will need the help of the player to see a move go through, but if there is a chance of signing Dyabala, then Manchester United should not think twice about pulling the trigger.