James Rodriguez to Juventus, Mauro Icardi to Real Madrid and more: LaLiga Transfer Roundup, 7 February 2019

All the top LaLiga Transfer news, rumours and updates of the day in one place!

Barcelona and Real Madrid in race to sign Paulo Dybala

According to football consultant Ian McGarry (courtesy: Daily Star), Paulo Dybala could very well be on his way to Barcelona and Real Madrid. Dybala's time at Juventus, he claims, is coming close to an end.

Speaking to the Transfer Window Podcast, McGarry said,

“It’s been going on for a while, probably at least a year to maybe 18 months, with regards to Dybala’s desire to test himself outside of Serie A,”

“He’s a young man, 25, so you could say not even at the peak of his career. Remarkable return of 165 appearances for Juve, 75 goals, close to that magical one in every two games - and 31 assists as well.

McGarry claims that Dybala has made it clear to his kin that he has accomplished all he wants at Juventus and is now ready to look for fresh challenges.

“Dybala has made it clear both to his representatives, who happen to be his family, and also his teammates that having won the Scudetto, also the Coppa Italia, he feels like he’s done as much as he can at Juventus and he feels like he wants to leave now.

“This is common pathway from Serie A to La Liga and I would say the two most interested parties for his signature would be Real Madrid and Barcelona, although Barcelona clearly have quite a good stock of strikers already.

Barcelona's top players are now well into their 30s and they are on the lookout for fresh legs to replace them.

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“But I think they have to start planning ahead with regards to both [Lionel] Messi and [Luis] Suarez being over 30 and maybe the introduction of a younger player like Dybala could help push them onto greater things, but also give them an option.

“However, I would not rule out moves by Manchester City and/or Manchester United. This is a player who’s within spending range. Contract runs out in 2022 but will be available for €110m or there/thereabouts, so you’re looking at just under the £98m mark.”

Signing Dybala will have its benefits as well as far as McGarry is concerned.

“As I said; great investment, has sell-on value, proven himself at the highest level, in Champions League as well, so my information is Dybala will agitate to move from Juventus this summer and the way that Juventus spend in the transfer market, even after the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, I think they already have plans to replace him.

“So I say Dybala, watch out. La Liga or Premier League, it will happen this summer.”

Josep Maria Bartomeu says Barcelona are preparing for life without Messi

Josep Maria Bartomeu is preparing Barcelona for life after Messi

Lionel Messi has been in prime form once again and is scoring goals for fun for Barcelona. He has been, for the umpteenth time, their most important player so far this season and looks like he will continue to be for the next two years, in the very least.

However, Barcelona are not willing to let Messi's current form lull them into any sense of complacency. Speaking to Guillem Balague on the Football Daily Podcast (courtesy: Daily Mail), Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said,

'I know one day Lionel will say he's retiring,'

'We have to prepare the club for the future,'

'We are bringing great young players to the team because we need to continue this era of success. That's our responsibility.

'My mandate will be finished in two seasons. So I need to leave the club in a great position and tell the new president 'that's our legacy'.'

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to battle it out for Mauro Icardi

Real Madrid are more than relieved that Karim Benzema has hit top form again. However, with the striker not going to grow any younger, they are on the lookout for top young strikers who can help keep the goals coming at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Now, according to AS (courtesy: Calcio Mercato), Inter Milan's prolific striker Mauro Icardi's future lies in Madrid, away from Milan. Inter Milan are going through a tough time right now with several issues cropping up off-field and Icardi is rumoured to be at the centre of it.

However, it won't be straightforward. The report claims that both Madrid clubs are interested in the Argentine striker. It is further claimed that Barcelona also remains interested in Icardi and will make a move to secure his services as Suarez saunters towards the twilight of his career.

James Rodriguez's father backs him to join Juventus

SL Benfica v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Group E

Colombian international James Rodriguez has been on loan at Bayern Munich for two consecutive seasons. However, it does not look like Bayern will want to keep him on a permanent basis. As such, Rodriguez has been linked with a move to Serie A.

Now, speaking to Sport Bild, James Rodriguez's father Rodriguez Sr. has backed his son to reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. He said,

"He has many offers. He is a good friend with Cristiano.

"The way I perceive Italian football right now, moving to [Juventus] would be a good decision."

Rodriguez hasn't been a regular under new Bayern coach Niko Kovac and Rodriguez Sr. had this to say about his son's lack of playing time at the Allianz Arena,