Barcelona Transfer News: Paulo Dybala Plan Amid Latest Neymar Contract Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly considering Juventus starlet Paulo Dybala as a replacement for Neymar should the latter decide to leave the club this summer. 

According to Sport, the Blaugrana have offered Neymar a new contract worth €15 million per year after tax and will now wait to see whether he accepts the deal; if he doesn’t, it’s suggested he’ll be sold, with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid all said to be keen on signing him.

On the back of that, Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana) reported that if Neymar were to move on, Dybala would be Barcelona’s first-choice replacement. Here is a look at why the 22-year-old could be capable of stepping into such big shoes:

While they operate in different positions on the field, both Neymar and Dybala proved themselves to be world-class talents last term. Here is how they compared statistically in league matches:

	Dybala	Neymar
Apps (Sub)	25 (9)	34
Goals	19	24
Assists	9	12
Shots per game	3.1	3.6
Key passes per game	2.1	3
Dribbles per game	2.7	4.2

Dybala is at an earlier stage in his development than Neymar and looks as though—much like the Brazilian in 2013-14—he is ready to explode on to the world stage soon.

There were times early in the season when the Argentina star seemed a little overawed by his move from Palermo. But as the campaign rumbled on, Dybala became a crucial component in the attacking setup deployed by manager Massimiliano Allegri, and he showed all of the hallmarks of a superstar in the making.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/Getty Images

As noted by OptaPaolo, Dybala wound up being the most potent attacking threat the Serie A-winning team have had for many years:

Still, replacing Neymar would be difficult. After all, the two players operate differently, with the Juventus man very much a centre-forward, while the Brazilian has shown his best from the left flank for Barcelona.

There’s a chemistry between Neymar and Barcelona’s other forwards that would be tough to rekindle with another player too. While Dybala is immensely talented and destined for the top, the manner in which the Blaugrana No. 11 links up with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi is almost telepathic.

It’s a unique dynamic and arguably the most effective attacking trio the game has ever seen. As noted by Bleacher Report UK, the goals flowed freely for the triumvirate last term:

Mundo Deportivo also reported (h/t Football Espana) that Neymar is likely to stay at Barcelona. According to Sport, PSG are willing to offer him a whopping annual salary of €25 million, and of the three teams interested, they represent his likeliest destination. However, the 24-year-old seems content with life at the Camp Nou.

JOSEP LAGO/Getty Images

Not only is he winning silverware and being put forward for individual awards such as the Ballon d’Or, but there’s an enjoyment in Neymar’s play whenever he steps on to the field. That’s not necessarily something he would enjoy in Madrid, Manchester or Paris with a world-record price tag to live up to.

Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez thinks Neymar is irreplaceable:

Should Neymar decide to embark on a new challenge, Barcelona will move on, and Dybala, while not a winger, seems like he would be intelligent enough to slot into the front three. He’s not at the Brazilian’s standard, though, and as a result, the Spanish champions would initially be worse off.

There will be concerns for those tied to the Catalan club that Neymar still hasn’t penned a new deal and worries that one of the aforementioned teams will trigger his €192 million buyout clause. It would allow the footballer to become the main man at an illustrious football club, but there are few teams better equipped to regularly challenge for honours than his current employers.