Barcelona Transfer News: Blaugrana Dealt Paulo Dybala Blow, Latest Rumours

Barcelona have reportedly been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, as the young star is on the verge of signing a new contract with the Old Lady.

Per the Sun's Dave Fraser, the 23-year-old Argentinian has been on the Blaugrana's radar for some time—while also being linked with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United—with Barca "desperate to lure him to Spain."

However, according to Tuttosport (via Fraser), Juve and Dybala are close to agreeing a new £86,000-a-week deal for the forward that will tie him to the club to 2021—his current contract expires in 2020 and is worth around £48,000 per week.

Given Dybala's excellent form since he moved to Juventus Stadium from Palermo in 2015, the news will come as a huge relief to all those connected with the Serie A champions.

For Barca and his other suitors, though, it is a significant blow.

Dybala is widely acknowledged as one of the most exciting young talents in the world, a sentiment recently echoed by Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti, per the UEFA Champions League:

In 42 Serie A appearances for Juventus, he has netted 22 times, while he returned 13 goals in the Italian top flight for Palermo in 2014-15 and provided 10 assists, per WhoScored.com.

Dybala has all the attributes necessary to be a top-class forward for the best part of the next decade. He is excellent on the ball, boasts terrific intelligence and, most importantly, can score goals.

Barca are not currently short on players who can find the back of the net and have arguably the best front three in the world at the moment in the shape of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

The cover and competition for Barcelona's superlative attacking trio is less impressive, though, especially for striker Suarez.

Paco Alcacer, 23, was bought from Valencia in the summer to act as an alternative to the Uruguayan at the tip of Barca's attack, but he has struggled so far in his Camp Nou career, per Goal's Ben Hayward:

Suarez is 29 and is not going to continue his current brilliant form forever. Barca need a succession plan.

Dybala would be the perfect candidate and even has the quality to battle Suarez for his place now.

However, it seems he will not be available for Barca to buy anytime soon, and the Blaugrana will need to look elsewhere for further forward strength if Alcacer continues to be so ineffective as an alternate.