This is one of the longest running Arsenal transfer rumours I can remember outside of a transfer window since Lukas Podolski was signed and sealed (and even announced) before the season even ended. Alisha Usmanov is the latest to issue a denial for Arsenal, but perhaps “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
Usmanov was reported to be personally involved in trying to persuade the Argentine hitman to move to the Emirates, but Red and White Holdings issued a statement that read: “Contrary to inaccurate media reports, Red & White would like to clarify that it has not made any formal or informal contact with either Paulo Dybala, his agent or Palermo football club,”
But despite Arsene Wenger glibly saying “show us the offer”, Dybala’s agent has yet again confirmed that there are definite offers on the table. Gustavo Muscardi was quoted as saying: “We have received important offers for Dybala, including from abroad where he is in particular wanted by an English club. There are two or three Italian proposals too.
“Is he worth €40m? Well, a player like him certainly can’t be just given away.”
And the player himself has hinted (just yesterday) that he will be leaving this summer. He said: “I try not to think too much about the transfer market. I am completely focused on the last 10 games, because they could be my last here.”
Arsene Wenger has always denied any interest in ANY player until a deal has been sealed, and he would certainly not want to disturb Olivier Giroud while he is in such fantastic form, so there could be a good case to be made for the Arsenal denials. But personally I would not discount the possibility of the Dybala arriving just yet……