Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has revealed the club’s star striker from this season, Paulo Dybala, will not be playing in Italy next season.
It is well known Dybala will be leaving Palermo at the end of the season but Zamparini’s admission that the Argentinian won’t be in Serie A at all in the next campaign is a surprise.
The 21-year-old has been in fine form this season, with his 11 goals coming in 22 league appearances and helping the promoted side to a strong eighth place.
The story of Dybala’s season is not just one of on-the-pitch success, however. The forward had been locked in a contract dispute with his club and when he did not sign Zamparini revealed the player would leave.
Zamparini said: "The lad is now in the hands of some people who do not wish him well. It is difficult to see him staying at Palermo, maybe someone wants to take him away later on a free transfer.”
Zamparini has blamed the people around the striker for corrupting the player and pricing him out of what seemed a certain move to Italian side Napoli.
Agents around the player are allegedly pushing for a higher salary and as the transfer saga develops with news on bluesq and other outlets it appears increasingly likely the forward will be moving to the Premier League. Indeed, he is consistently linked with Arsenal and Manchester United.
Arsene Wenger already has Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud in his squad, making a move for Dybala unlikely as the Arsenal boss will be unwilling to sell any of the three.
Sanchez has been the star for Arsenal this season since his summer arrival, Welbeck was another summer acquisition from Manchester United and Wenger often uses Giroud as his main man in attack.
The slim chances of a move to the Emirates makes United the favourite of the two clubs. Louis van Gaal’s side have been struggling in attack this season and Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao have just 22 goals in the league between them this season.
Falcao’s loan deal from Monaco expires at the end of the season, with the Colombian yet to prove he is worth making the move permanent for the quoted £43million. Young Dybala could therefore be a transfer coup if Van Gaal is able to secure the 21-year-old on a free transfer.