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‘Complete’ star chasing £160k-a-week, as Tottenham emerge as favourites

Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
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ALLIANZ STADIUM, TORINO, ITALY - 2022/03/20: Paulo Dybala of Juventus Fc  during warm up before the Serie A match between Juventus Fc and Us Salernitana. Juventus Fc wins 2-0 over US Salernitana. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images

Paulo Dybala could block a potential move to Inter Milan as the San Siro side may struggle to afford the Tottenham Hotspur target’s wage demands in a free transfer from Juventus.

That’s according to Sky Italia, who claim the Nerazzurri are the only Italian club likely in the running for Dybala’s services. The Argentine will leave the Allianz Stadium at the end of the season after the Bianconeri chose against extending his contract that is due to end in June.

Inter Milan have followed Dybala for a number of years and contended with Juventus for his transfer in 2015. But Giuseppe Marotta, now the chairman at the San Siro, secured his arrival from Palermo for an initial €32m (£26.5m), rising to €40m (£33m) after add-ons.

TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 20: Paulo Dybala of Juventus FC controls the ball during the Serie A match between Juventus and US Salernitana at Allianz Stadium on March 20, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Photo by Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Marotta has maintained a good relationship with Dybala since leaving his role as Juventus CEO in 2018 for Inter Milan. But the Nerazzurri must first free funds to afford the 28-year-old’s transfer, as he is demanding a €10m-a-year (£160k-a/w) net wage including bonuses.

The financial hurdle could again see Inter Milan miss out on Dybala’s transfer, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona also keen. The Argentine’s agent, Jorge Antun, has also requested to be registered in Spain so he is able to negotiate any potential move to La Liga this summer.

Dybala demanding £160k-a-week ahead of Juventus exit with Tottenham favourites

Dybala is yet to rule out any free transfer away from Juventus, with Tottenham also in the mix with Inter Milan, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Fabio Paratici’s presence in the Spurs hierarchy following his 11 years in Turin as sporting director could also help their pursuit.

TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 20: Paulo Dybala of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus and US Salernitana at Allianz Stadium on March 20, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

But while Corriere dello Sport cite Tottenham and Barcelona as the favourites for Dybala’s transfer from Juventus, his salary demands may also block a move to north London. That’s because TuttoMercatoWEB report Spurs, like Inter Milan, cannot afford to pay his request.

Dybala is unlikely to settle for much less than his €10m-a-year including bonuses demands. Juventus had agreed to pay him €8m-a-year (£128k-a/w), plus €1.5m (£1.25m) in bonuses, in October, per Corriere Della Sera. But they then pulled the offer and sought a reduction.

Yet the 32-cap Argentine – who Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero deems a ‘complete player’ – rejected their lower offer. Per TuttoJuve, the Bianconeri suggested a €7m-a-year (£112k-a/w) base salary with additional bonuses based on his appearances and goals.