Chelsea made bid for coveted Paulo Dybala 'as Jose Mourinho likes him a lot'

Paulo Dybala's intermediary, Gustavo Mascardi, has claimed the Palermo forward is listening to proposals from a number of clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea, before making a decision on his future. He also revealed Jose Mourinho made an insufficient bid a while ago.

The race to secure the services of the 21-year-old sensation has turned into a transfer soap opera with Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini creating a public auction among the potential suitors in order to get most for his services. He has placed a minimum €40m (£29m, $43m) price tag on his signature while saying the forward "is going to be the Lionel Messi of the future".

The outspoken chief assured during the January transfer window that the club had already rejected an approach from Manchester United, while in March he said he received two lucrative offers from Juventus and the Gunners to secure his services.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger quickly denied that during a press conference but rumours about his move to the Emirates Stadium or Old Trafford have continued.

And after Zamparini said Dybala will be sold somewhere else by the end of the month, Mascardi has claimed Chelsea are also in the battle and suggests Arsenal, despite Wenger's denial, are still interested too.

"Juventus are the favourites. We're also listening to proposals from Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico [Madrid], Arsenal and Chelsea. In Italy, there's also Roma and Inter, in addition to Juve. Dybala will calmly decide, along with Zamparini," he said to Tuttosport.

"The interest of several clubs abroad is intensifying, [Chelsea manager Jose] Mourinho likes him a lot. I think this story will go on for several weeks longer.

"Zamparini is asking for €40m and it seems to me like a fair price. Chelsea presented an offer a while ago, but it was very low."

Nevertheless, Mascardi, who is working side by side with the player's agent, Pierpaolo Triulzi, to find a new club for Dybala, claimed Juventus are still in pole position to win the race after making the higher bid.

He said: "In the end Dybala will choose the team that he feels is best for his growth and Zamparini will see if they can offer what he wants. Juventus are the favourites and because the player favours that destination and because [Juventus managing director Giuseppe] Marotta, who is also a friend, has so far submitted the highest bid to Palermo. Well, the best one for now: €32m."

Meanwhile, reports in Spain claimed Mascardi has been in Madrid on 17 April to discuss a move to Diego Simeone's Atletico side.