Argentina manager, Gerardo Martino spoke last week that he was watching several new players ahead of the friendlies at the end of March and Cancha Llena are today reporting that Palermo’s Paulo Dybala is likely to be named on Tuesday. The 21-year-old has been in sparkling form in Serie A this season and given Italy were hoping they could persuade Dybala to join the Azzurri, Martino might be wanting to ensure that he is able to call on the former Instituto player in the future.

Dybala has personally spoken of his desire to represent Argentina and shunned talk of representing Italy and if these reports are correct, Martino has decided to take a closer look when Argentina face El Salvador and Ecuador in the United States on the 28th and 31st of March.

Dybala’s inclusion will most likely see one of the more recognised forwards rested for these friendlies. Martino’s recent five strikers have been: Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Ángel Di María and Carlos Tevez. While nearly all have been in excellent form themselves this season and remain the most likely options ahead of the Copa América, these friendlies do give La Selección a chance to look at alternatives.

Luciano Vietto, Mauro Icardi and Franco Di Santo were the others that Martino named as the players he was watching and although Vietto and Icardi are still linked with calls on Tuesday, it is Dybala’s name that the Argentine press are reporting.

Martino had also said that he would be looking at some players based in Argentina for the friendlies and those that have been listed are Fernando Gago from Boca, Federico Mancuello from Independiente, Ramiro Funes Mori from River Plate and Guido Carrillo from Estudiantes. Gago is enjoying a great start to the season with Boca and is well used to be called up by the national side while the other three are linked with moves to Europe.

Martino will name the squad on Tuesday ahead of the first friendly against El Salvador in Washington on March 28th and the match against Ecuador on the 31st in New Jersey.