Tottenham have made contact with Juventus over an audacious swoop for Paulo Dybala.

Spurs would have to break their transfer record for the second time this summer to sign the Argentina international, who is valued at £80m by the Italian club.

Dybala is regarded as one of the finest forwards in the world but he has been a casualty of Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Turin and scored just five goals in the Serie A last season.

Juve are thought to be prepared to listen to offers for the 25-year-old and, while hugely ambitious, Spurs believe a deal in the final two weeks of the transfer window is a possibility.

Dybala's contract runs until 2022 and he is thought to earn around £120,000-a-week, which should not pose a significant problem for Spurs, with Harry Kane and Dele Alli currently paid more.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is a huge admirer of his compatriot, describing him as among ‘the best in the world’ before Dybala dumped Spurs out of the Champions League in the last-16 two years ago.

Spurs have been weighing up an approach for Dybala for over three weeks but signing him would represent a huge coup for the London club, who have already broken their transfer record this month with the £65m capture of Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon.

Another major incoming would prove chairman Daniel Levy is prepared to fully back Pochettino in the transfer market and deliver the trophies craved by supporters following last season’s defeat in the Champions League Final.

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Spurs finally sold misfit Vincent Janssen to Mexican club Monterrey for £8m this week and Fernando Llorente has left the club after his contract expired – but could yet return on vastly reduced terms.

Harry Kane is now their only recognised striker – although Lucas Moura and Heung-min Son can play up-front – and Pochettino suggested on Wednesday that he wants to add another forward to his squad.

Asked if 17-year-old Troy Parrott was in his plans for the new season, the Spurs manager said: “Today, yes. Tomorrow, I don’t know. We’ll see what happens at the end of the transfer window.”

Spurs remain in talks with Real Betis for playmaker Giovani Lo Celso, who is valued at £67m by the Spanish club, but they would have to choose whether to prioritise him or Dybala if Juve offer encouragement that they might sell.

Dybala, who helped Argentina to a third-place finish at the Copa America and is still on holiday, can also play at No.10 and wide and his versatility appeals to Pochettino, particularly with the future of Christian Eriksen still uncertain.