Tottenham transfer news: Paulo Dybala agrees to join from Juventus with image rights now key to deal

The Argentine has agreed personal terms with Spurs but his complicated image rights are proving difficult

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign Paulo Dybala from Juventus – however the player’s labyrinthine image rights are currently holding up an agreement ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.

Juventus are keen to offload Dybala this summer with new head coach Maurizio Sarri deeming him surplus to requirements in Turin this season.

Mauricio Pochettino is a huge fan of the 25-year-old forward and Spurs this week expressed a concrete interest in signing the player, with the club willing to match his wage demands.

However, the Argentine’s image rights are currently preventing a deal from being struck.

Those rights are currently owned by the Malta-based Star Image Company and will cost an extra multi-million pound fee to settle.

Sources close to the negotiations however say that would be significantly lower than the £40m quoted in some Italian newspapers.

However, the additional cost will place further strain on Tottenham’s finances, after they earlier this summer broke their club-record transfer fee to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon for an initial £55.4m.

The level of legal untangling to solve the image rights issue with Star Image Company mean the deal remains difficult to complete.

However, there is now a growing feeling from those involved that it can be solved before Thursday’s 5pm transfer deadline.

Spurs are meanwhile expected to complete the £25m signing of Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon today.

Spurs have been in talks with the Championship side all summer with Sessegnon, 19, determined to complete a move to north London ahead of the start of the new season.

Daniel Levy’s reluctance to meet Fulham’s asking price has seen the deal go down to the wire, but a deal was finally struck between the two clubs on Wednesday ahead of a Thursday announcement.