Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Can't Afford to Fall Behind in Paulo Dybala Race

Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund reportedly lead the race for Liverpool target Paulo Dybala, and with a lack of scoring options currently plaguing Brendan Rodgers' squad, the Reds can't afford to fall behind in the race for the youngster's signature.

According to Argentine newspaper Clarin (h/t Football Italia), the Gunners and Die Schwarzgelben have identified the Argentina youth international as a priority signing, with both clubs ready to present offers to Palermo.

Those offers will have to be substantial, given club president Maurizio Zamparini has put a massive price on his South American starlet, via GianlucaDiMarzio.com's David Amoyal:

The Reds are also believed to be in the mix, with Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Metro's Jamie Sanderson) suggesting Rodgers is already talking to the Palermo brass.

So, three of the best clubs in the world are chasing a 21-year-old potentially worth €40 million, who most casual fans in Britain have never even heard of.

That must be some kind of player, right?

He is.

Dybala has been a revelation in Serie A this season, scoring seven goals and adding six assists in 16 starts for a dreadful Palermo side, via WhoScored.com.

He's been so good that Argentina manager Gerardo Martino has talked about selecting the youngster for the senior squad, despite the presence of the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, per Amoyal.

The comparison with Manchester City star Aguero keeps coming up when people talk about Dybala. He has blinding pace, exceptional balance given his light frame, a big bag of trickery and natural finishing ability.

Dybala is far from a finished product. He greatly favours his left foot to the point where it sometimes holds him back, and his lack of experience will likely show on the biggest stages, as shared by Bleacher Report's Clark Whitney:

However, his impeccable work ethic and defensive contributions on what is anything but a strong Palermo team indicate even early struggles won't hold his career back. Everything points to the Argentine being the latest in a long line of South American talents emerging from Palermo's ranks—think Edinson Cavani and Javier Pastore.

Daniel Sturridge's persistent injury problems and Mario Balotelli's disastrous start to the season have left Liverpool dying for goals. After their 2-2 draw with Arsenal, a match the Reds dominated but couldn't win, the Liverpool Echo's Joe Rimmer pointed at the clear lack of talented finishers as the No. 1 reason for the result:

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It might not be something that Liverpool fans learned today, but it's something that has been driven home time and again this season. The lack of a natural goalscorer is costing Liverpool dearly.

What the Reds would do for a Luis Suarez or a Daniel Sturridge. What they wouldn't give for a Robbie Fowler, Ian Rush or a Michael Owen. Even an Emile Heskey wouldn't be bad.

Consider the statistics from today's draw with Arsenal for a moment. Liverpool had 27 shots on goal against the Gunners today and restricted the visitors to 35% possession.

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Dybala would likely not be an instant solution to this problem—he's just 21 years old, after all. However, Liverpool's long-term outlook doesn't look much rosier, either. As shared by Liverpool Data, Sturridge's history suggests injuries will always be a part of his career:

Divock Origi may be exceptionally gifted, but via the New York Times' Gabriele Marcotti, scoring isn't exactly his strong suit:

Despite spending a lot of money during the summer transfer window, the Reds are still lacking someone capable of doing arguably the most important task on the pitch and putting the ball in the net. Bleacher Report's Ryan Bailey and Janusz Michallik want to see some changes up front as well:

Despite Zamparini's big statement, Dybala won't cost a team €40 million in January. The financial state of Italian football means Palermo can't hold out for a massive fee, and any bid around £20 million will at least tempt the Sicilians.

There's a good chance the Argentine starlet completes the season in Italy, but if clubs make their approach in January, the Reds can't fall behind. Dybala fits a clear need and has the potential to be the next great South American striker. Even after such a busy summer, Liverpool can't afford to miss out on him.

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