Lionel Messi's Argentina Teammate Ready To Join Liverpool On Free Transfer: Report

Liverpool FC are reportedly monitoring Argentina forward Paulo Dybala's contract situation at Juventus.

Dybala's current deal with Juventus is set to end in the summer and the talks between the two parties regarding an extension have stalled. The player is ready to move to Liverpool in the summer, reported Italian media outlet TuttoMercatoWeb. The Reds are planning to sign a pre-season agreement with Dybala, who would then move to Anfield as a free agent.

Jurgen Klopp is looking to strengthen his attack, which already comprises established players such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.

Juventus will reportedly hold their contract renewal meetings in February, where Dybala's Turin future will be decided. The player is also being chased by Serie A rivals Inter Milan, the report further claimed.

Dybala possesses quite a few similar characteristics as his national captain Lionel Messi – both are left-footed, short but quick on the field and have excellent technique.

It is understood that Dybala, once considered to be Juventus' future, wants to sign an extension but the Serie A club has stopped the negotiations, especially after the arrival of Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina.

Dybala has made 23 appearances for Juventus across all competitions in the 2021-22 season and has scored 11 goals and four assists.

After moving from Palermo to Juventus ahead of the 2015-16 campaign, Dybala has netted 111 goals and 51 assists in 277 games for the Turin side.

Dybala, whose weekly wage is around $302,152, is joint-second in the list of highest earners at Juventus, according to sillyseason.com.

Meanwhile, at Liverpool's highest salary bracket is a weekly wage of $295,373, which belongs to star center-back Virgil van Dijk, according to Spotrac. It would be interesting to see if Liverpool re-do their salary structure to fit in Dybala or the Argentinean accepts a pay cut to join the Merseyside.