Barcelona’s new assistant manager Henrik Larsson is pushing for a move to sign Moussa Dembele of Olympique Lyon, who is available this summer.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, as relayed by The Sun, Barcelona seem to have identified a new candidate to replace Luis Suarez, in the shape of Moussa Dembele. The Olympique Lyon striker is preferred by Barca’s new assistant manager, Henrik Larsson, who has reportedly been in contact with the player recently.
Lyon are keen on cashing in on Dembele this summer in an attempt to balance the books following a dismal Ligue 1 campaign which was combined with the coronavirus pandemic. And Catalonia has emerged as a shock destination, it seems, as the Frenchman looks to take the next step in his career.
Barcelona are desperate for a new striker this summer following reports that suggest that Luis Suarez has been asked to leave the club. The club, therefore, needs a reliable goalscoring centre-forward who can replace the Uruguayan international in the long run.
Lautaro Martinez was believed to be the primary target for the Spanish giants. However, Inter Milan’s hefty valuation of the player is proving to be a problem for the club, especially after a disappointing 2019/20 campaign that saw them not only miss out on La Liga title but also taste an embarrassing 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
That is why Barcelona might be content with a less popular figure in Dembele. But, the Frenchman is no slouch, having enjoyed immense success with Lyon. He has, in fact, scored 44 goals in less than 100 competitive matches for Les Gones and notably scored the brace that helped them oust Manchester City in the Champions League.
Much like Martinez, Dembele is known for his intelligent movement and pace that makes him quite a threat on the counter. Those traits are complemented by stellar finishing instincts – making him one of the most lethal forwards in French football right now.
In the meantime, however, Barcelona are getting desperate to keep hold of their icon – Lionel Messi, who has reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester City. His potential departure could be quite spectacular and might cause a radical change in the club’s transfer policy.
Therefore, it is perhaps too soon for the Catalan giants to be eyeing a new striking option as they brace themselves for one of the busiest and arguably the most important overhaul in the club’s recent history.
