Liverpool are ready to tempt Ousmane Dembele to end his Barcelona stint with an offer of a €20 million signing bonus in addition to hiked wages.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Liverpool are stepping up their efforts to sign Ousmane Dembele on a free transfer in next summer’s transfer window. The Reds are prepared to offer the Barcelona contract rebel a €20 million signing bonus in addition to improved wages to arrive at Anfield on a Bosman move.
Ousmane Dembele joined Barcelona in the summer of 2017 following an acrimonious exit from Borussia Dortmund. The Frenchman was widely heralded as the long-term replacement for Neymar after the Brazilian’s shock move to Paris Saint-Germain. However, he has been riddled with injuries in the last four years, spending more time on the sidelines than on the pitch.
The same has been the case in the 2021/22 season, with the 24-year-old managing just 25 minutes of action so far. After missing the initial part of the season to a knee injury, Dembele has sustained a hamstring issue, which will render him unavailable for months again.
Despite his fitness woes, Barcelona are keen on securing the long-term future of the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, with newly-appointed manager Xavi requesting the club to agree on a renewal with him. However, as things stand, Dembele looks set to depart Camp Nou as a free agent, with his situation alerting Liverpool, among others.
It has even been reported that Liverpool and Dembele are in contact, with the foundation of a possible Bosman move being laid down. And as per El Nacional, the Reds are willing to offer the 24-year-old a lucrative €20 million signing bonus to tempt him to end his stint with Barcelona.
In addition, Liverpool will also offer him a higher pay package than the one he earns at Barcelona currently. The interest in Dembele makes sense because Divock Origi is facing an uncertain future at Anfield, while Mohamed Salah is yet to be offered a bumper new deal by Liverpool, which has created uncertainty surrounding his long-term future.
Dembele, to that end, would be a viable candidate to join the Merseyside club’s attacking unit, possibly joining as a similar signing as Diogo Jota was last year. If rumours of improved wages are true, Liverpool will fancy their chances, considering there have been suggestions that Barcelona are offering Dembele a pay as you play contract, as per recent claims by SPORT.
So, an intriguing transfer saga seems to be setting up, with Liverpool hoping to attract Dembele with the riches they have offered. What remains to be seen is if the Barcelona contract rebel ends his spell at Camp Nou to join Liverpool as a free agent next summer.
