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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
George Flood

Thiago Silva backs Chelsea move for Paulo Dybala: ‘He’d be a massive signing for us’

Thiago Silva has talked up a potential move to Chelsea for Paulo Dybala this summer.

Reports earlier this week suggested that the Blues were keen on a switch for the experienced Roma striker, who could link-up with fellow Argentine Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

Dybala’s current contract at the Stadio Olimpico, which runs until the summer of 2025, is rumoured to include a clause that would make him available to foreign suitors for a cut-price fee of just €12million (£10.2m) in the current window.

Chelsea are still in need of greater firepower after scoring a paltry 38 goals during a dreadful season that culminated in their worst Premier League finish since 1994, despite having already sealed moves for RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku - the joint-highest scorer in the Bundesliga last term - and Villarreal winger Nicolas Jackson this summer.

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Romelu Lukaku wants to leave this summer after his loan spell back at Champions League finalists Inter Milan, with Chelsea demanding a fee of £38m for a player whom they signed for a club-record £97.5m only two years ago. Juventus and Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal have also registered their interest in the Belgian international after Inter saw a first permanent offer worth £26m rejected.

A potential deal for Dybala appears to have the full seal of approval from veteran Chelsea defender Silva, who has also backed Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to make successes of their respective moves to AC Milan.

“I’ve asked Paulo Dybala if it’s true that he’s coming to Chelsea but he didn’t answer! He’s a top player, he’d be a massive signing for us — I’d like it,” Silva told Sky during a visit to Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, per Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea target: Roma striker Paulo Dybala has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge (Getty Images)

“Pulisic is good guy, he’s gonna do very well at Milan — same as Loftus-Cheek.”

Dybala has been at Roma for only one season so far, scoring 18 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions under Jose Mourinho in 2022/23 after leaving Serie A rivals Juventus at the end of his contract, including the opener in their Europa League final defeat by Sevilla in Budapest last month.

The 29-year-old also has 38 senior caps for Argentina to date and was part of the Albiceleste squad that lifted the World Cup in Qatar over the winter.

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