Liverpool and Manchester United have reportedly made initial contact with Barcelona contract rebel Ousmane Dembele.
According to reputed Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, Liverpool and Manchester United have contacted Ousmane Dembele, who several Premier League clubs are tracking. The Barcelona contract rebel is also the subject of interest from Newcastle United.
Ousmane Dembele has done little to justify the enormous hype surrounding him when he joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund four years ago. Heralded as the possible long-term successor for Neymar, the Frenchman arrived at Camp Nou amid a lot of excitement and fanfare.
However, injuries have curtailed his development greatly, and Dembele has spent most of his stint with Barcelona on the sidelines. To date, the 24-year-old has managed 30 goals and 21 assists in 118 appearances for the Blaugrana. Barcelona, though, still appear to be rating Dembele highly, as suggested by their eagerness to tie him down to a new contract.
However, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner appears to be running down his Barcelona contract, putting the Catalan giants in a precarious position as a result. Such a situation has piqued the interest of Liverpool and Manchester United, among others.
While Liverpool have been heavily linked with Dembele on several occasions, recent reports have suggested that the Reds have ceded their pursuit of the 24-year-old. So, it is certainly surprising that Liverpool have now initiated contact with his agent, although Dembele would be a viable target for the Reds if they do make a move for him, as he would add some much-needed depth in attack.
On the other hand, the interest from Manchester United comes as a bit of a surprise, considering they are brimming with talented players in the attacking unit following the arrival of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer. Nevertheless, the Red Devils remain hot on the trails of the Barcelona contract rebel and have made initial contact with his agent.
In addition to Liverpool and Manchester United, Newcastle United are also interested in Dembele, with widespread reports claiming that they are ready to offer him a lucrative contract. What now remains to be seen is if Dembele indeed runs his contract down with Barcelona by joining a Premier League club or if he stays put at Camp Nou.
