Barcelona have reportedly decided to part ways with French forward Ousmane Dembele, who is dithering over signing a new contract at Camp Nou.
According to a report from Fichajes, Barcelona have decided to offload Ousmane Dembele in the upcoming January transfer window after having grown tired of waiting for him to sign a new contract.
Dembele signed for Barcelona in the summer of 2017 from German giants Borussia Dortmund, coming in as a replacement for Neymar, who had completed a world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. However, the Frenchman has flattered to deceive in his four-year stint at Camp Nou, most of which he has spent out on the sidelines due to injury.
Indeed, Dembele has missed almost as many games as he placed for the Blaugrana. Even when fit and on the pitch, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has hardly been a consistent performer. He has played just thrice in all competitions this season, totalling up to only 73 minutes of action on the field.
Dembele’s contract with Barcelona expires at the end of the ongoing campaign. Despite his struggles, the Catalans have been intent on handing him a new deal. However, the former Rennes starlet has not been willing to commit his long-term future to the club as he holds out for a bigger payday.
Dembele has offers from clubs across Europe, with Newcastle United, in particular, tabling a bumper contract worth €15 million per season along with an additional signing-on bonus of €15 million. In comparison, Barcelona are offering him a deal that would be worth lesser than what he currently earns, owing to the club’s economic situation.
While the Frenchman is believed to be keen on continuing at Camp Nou, he wants a bigger payday than what is currently being put forth, leading to a standoff. Despite the club’s best efforts, there has been no progress achieved, so much so that the Blaugrana are now said to be growing tired of the entire situation.
As a result, the report claims that Barcelona have decided to offload Dembele in the upcoming January transfer window and get some transfer fee from his departure rather than lose him for nothing at the end of the campaign.
There have been links to PSG, while Premier League giants Manchester United have also been credited with an interest. It remains to be seen if any of the clubs are forthcoming to sign him in January.
