Ousmane Dembele is reportedly ready to commit his future to Barcelona but wants to quick resolution of the contract renewal negotiations.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, the impasse between Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele could end soon, with the Frenchman keen on remaining at Camp Nou beyond the summer transfer window. The two parties are yet to reach an agreement over a renewal, and they want a quick resolution of the talks.
The soap opera surrounding Ousmane Dembele’s bizarre contract renewal saga might finally reach its conclusion. The saga started when Barcelona’s director of football Mateu Alemany announced in January that the two parties had reached a point of no return during negotiations over a contract renewal.
Barcelona subsequently wanted to sell Dembele in the January transfer window, but his departure did not materialise. The 25-year-old then went about producing the goods for Barcelona on the pitch and ended the 2021/22 season with more assists than any other player in La Liga (13), despite playing only 21 games.
But Dembele’s contract situation has left Barcelona in a spot of bother in the last couple of months, and his contract expired at the turn of the month. While the Catalan giants seem to be closing in on securing the services of Raphinha in a big-money deal, Xavi Hernandez also wants Dembele at his disposal.
Recent reports have suggested that Barcelona’s optimism surrounding Dembele’s contract renewal has been rising. At the same time, several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, have shown interest in the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, even submitting contract offers to him.
But Dembele is prepared to commit his long-term future to Barcelona, even though he will earn significantly less at Camp Nou than what his suitors were offering. The report claims that the Catalan giants have been hoping to hand him a deal with a 40 per cent cut on his previous salary.
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Barcelona will have a win on their hands if Dembele commits his future by signing a contract with significantly reduced wages. But with the player’s heart set on remaining at Camp Nou, it looks like the announcement of his renewal might not be too far away, meaning he will soon join training in Barcelona’s pre-season camp.
