Barcelona and Chelsea keen on signing €12 million-rated Serie A star - Reports
Barcelona and Chelsea are reportedly looking to sign AS Roma attacker Paulo Dybala.
The 30-year-old has 14 goals and nine assists in 30 games across competitions this season. Most of those goal contributions - 12 goals and eight assists - have come in 22 outings in Serie A, where Roma are fifth in the standings after 31 games.
Despite his contract running till 2025, the Argentinian is being pursued by multiple clubs. Two of them - as per ESPN (via Barca Universal) - are the Blaugrana and the Blues.
Xavi's side are in crying need for reinforcements to contend for titles. Dybala - with his reported €12 million release clause - is a cost-affordable option for the La Liga giants, whose financial woes are well documented.
As per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Roma are likely to allow the player to leave for a non-Italian club if his release clause is triggered. The Blues - much like the Blaugrana - are set to end the season without a trophy.
While they could prise out Barca in the race for Dybala, the Blues might opt to focus on other areas of the pitch as they look to return to the Premier League elite next season.
What's next for Chelsea and Barcelona?
Barcelona and Chelsea have endured underwhelming campaigns. While Xavi's side have had the better season overall, they are out of three different competitions.
Having already lost in the Supercopa Espana and Copa del Rey, a 4-1 quarterfinal second-leg defeat (6-4 on aggregate) to PSG in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal in midweek knocked Barca out of Europe.
Trailing leaders Real Madrid by eight points with seven games to go, Xavi's side have a make-or-break trip to the La Liga leaders on Sunday (April 21) to keep their slim hopes of a title defence alive.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are ninth in the Premier League after 31 games and could miss out on European football for the second straight season. Mauricio Pochettino's side have a chance of silverware, though, as they take on holders Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinal on Saturday (April 20).