In the modern age it would be fair to say that if you aren't living in a constant state of confusion then you are probably relying on misinformation.

The transfer window is a microcosm of everything that is wrong with the media today. A realm that strongly believes in the theory that if something is repeated enough times then it must be true. I published a post not too long ago suggesting a few sources that I tend to look to for transfer news. I'm not saying that these guys get it right 100% of the time but that I feel that at the very least they have contacts within clubs and the game itself and that they pass on information to the best of their knowledge.

One such respectable source, Sky Sports Lyall Thomas, posted this update last night in regards Spurs ongoing interest in Argentine forward Pablo Dybala.

As you can see Thomas is quoting Sky's sister broadcaster Sky Italia on the story and digging a little deeper it appears that the reporter in chief is Gianluca Di Marzio

That on the face of it is pretty good news as Di Marzio has a decent record when it comes to transfers involving Italian clubs.

It would be fair to say that securing the signature of Dybala would be a massive coup for Spurs. The Juve man had a disappointing 2018/19 season scoring just 5 goals in Serie A and there is no doubt that he has been affected by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, he is rare talent and would undoubtedly add the kind of flair and creativity that Spurs missed at times last year.

It would appear that Juventus are happy to move him on with an agreement already reached with Manchester United for his transfer before the Red Devils walked away from talks with the player when the true cost of the deal became apparent. Those costs allegedly included a £300k a week wage, fees to his agents who are also his family and his image rights. The official party line from United was that they weren't convinced that the player really wanted to join but the fact remains that following the signing of Maguire earlier in the week they probably can't afford him while the likes of Pogba and Sanchez remain on their books.

If those figures are genuine then we can assume that he won't be joining Tottenham. Our top earner, Harry Kane, is on around £200k a week and reports are that the new contract we offered Eriksen was around that figure too. Further sources have suggested that Spurs met with Dybala's family last month and a figure of around £150k a week was floated. It would represent a pay increase for the Argentine but probably not enough to get him to sign on the dotted line. French Media also continue to run stories that cash-rich PSG retain an interest in the player. They would certainly have no problem in paying that much but with Neymar and Mbappe at the club would they be willing too and would Dybala simply be trading one situation whereby he wasn't the main man for another?

As with the ongoing Coutinho to Spurs rumors, one of the trump cards being portrayed in our bid to get Dybala to North London is that the player wants to work with Poch. I take such reports with a pinch of salt because in the event that we can only offer Dybala £200k a week then the admiration that the player may have for the coach is likely to become immaterial should a club be willing to pay him what he wants. Furthermore, Dybala has won trophies galore at Juve. A move to Spurs would represent a transfer from title winners to a team of perpetual underachievers. As hard as that might be to hear for Spurs fans it is the truth and we shouldn't be surprised to understand that the driving factors behind players decisions will always be money and success - 2 things that we cannot offer at present.

A few weeks ago @blanchy asked me what chance I give for the Dybala to Spurs transfer and i said 30%. For me, that hasn't changed and it'd require the kind decisive action from Spurs in the transfer market that we haven't seen for many years to get this deal over the line at the 11th hour.