Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly turned down the opportunity to sign soon-to-be free agent Paulo Dybala after Daniel Levy baulked at the Argentine's mammoth salary demands.
Dybala is confirmed to be leaving Juventus as a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the month - bringing an end to a seven-year spell in Turin.
The former Palermo man's next career move has been shrouded in uncertainty for the past few months, although a number of Premier League sides have been linked with a move.
Antonio Conte's arrival at Tottenham has understandably led to suggestions that the 28-year-old could head for North London - snubbing interest from bitter rivals Arsenal in the process.
However, the Daily Mail now claims that the Lilywhites will not pursue a move for Dybala, who is after a significant pay packet of £280,000 per week at his new club.
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The report adds that Dybala has a £260k-per-week offer on the table from Inter Milan but is still holding out for a higher wage, and he leaves Juve after the club declined to bow to his demands of a £373,000 weekly wage.
Dybala leaves Juventus having scored 115 goals and provided 48 assists in 293 matches for the Italian giants, including 15 goals and six assists from 39 games in the 2021-22 season.
The Argentina international won five Serie A titles and four Coppa Italia crowns during his time at the Allianz Stadium, as well as helping the club reach the Champions League final in 2017.
The 28-year-old paid an emotional farewell to the Old Lady during the club's final home game of the 2021-22 season against Lazio, claiming that captaining Juve was the "greatest pride" of his life.
"It is difficult to find the right words to greet you, there are so many years and so many emotions involved, all together, I thought we would be together even more years, but fate puts us on different paths," Dybala wrote on social media.
"I will never forget everything you made me experience, every game, every goal. With you I grew up, I learned, I lived and I dreamed. It has been 7 years of magic, 12 trophies and 115 goals that no one will take away from us. Never.
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"Thank you for supporting me in difficult times. Thanks to those who have accompanied me over the years: from the first to the last, from the fans to the people who work within the club, everyone, coaches and teammates, employees and managers.
"Wearing this important jersey together with the captain's armband has been one of the greatest pride of my life, which I hope to show to my children and grandchildren someday."
Tottenham are increasingly optimistic about their chances of keeping Harry Kane at the club for the 2022-23 season following Conte's positive impact, but the Lilywhites are still hopeful of bringing in a player to provide backup and competition to the England captain.
Dejan Kulusevski will eventually follow fellow Juve teammate Rodrigo Bentancur in signing for the club on a permanent deal, and Spurs' Serie A raid continued with the capture of Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan last month.
Conte is also keen to shore up his backline with the acquisition of Nerazzurri centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, although the Italian reportedly wants to stay put at San Siro.
Tottenham will not take up their buy option for Atalanta BC goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, though, with Southampton's Fraser Forster instead arriving to act as Hugo Lloris's deputy.
Ben Knapton
