Premier League giants Chelsea are unlikely to make a move for Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele at the end of the season.
A recent report from Sport has offered an update on the future of Ousmane Dembele. The Barcelona attacker’s current contract expires at the end of the season and he remains a sought-after player in Europe, especially as he will be available on a free transfer.
Chelsea were said to be among the clubs interested in Dembele. However, it appears the Premier League giants have halted their pursuit of the Barcelona superstar after Russian owner Roman Abramovich announced that he has put the club up for sale.
Businessman Muhsin Bayrak has already expressed the desire to buy Chelsea. While it would not be surprising to see a big investor taking over the west London outfit in the near future, it is apparent that the club is set for a major shift in policy.
Apart from the prospect of having new owners, Chelsea may also have to hire new management as sporting director Marina Granovskaia and chairman Bruce Buck are both tipped to leave the club along with Abramovich. It has resulted in the club’s transfer plans being halted, with manager Thomas Tuchel recently admitting that the Blues could be set for an uncertain period.
As such, Chelsea are unlikely to make a move for Ousmane Dembele. The Londoners were linked with a move for the Frenchman in January, but the player ruled out the transfer in favour of a summer exit that would help him gain an even more lucrative offer.
While Chelsea might be out of contention, the former Borussia Dortmund starlet remains a top target for Newcastle United, although the Magpies could face stiff competition from Manchester United. Amid the uncertain futures of Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Martial and the suspended Mason Greenwood, the Red Devils are in the market for new attackers, with Dembele fitting the bill perfectly.
In fact, the Frenchman has been a long time target for Manchester United and one would expect the club to be able to afford the attacker’s hefty wage demands next season.
However, an extended stay at Barcelona shouldn’t be completely ruled out either, as the winger has been treated rather well by Xavi Hernandez since the end of the January transfer window. The player himself is convinced of Xavi’s project and has no problems prolonging his career at Camp Nou, although Barca’s apparent lack of finances could be a major sticking point.
The winger’s representatives are still holding out for a lucrative contract in the summer. However, a lot will depend on how Barcelona end the campaign. There is a still a sliver of a chance for Dembele to change his mind and settle for a pay cut in order to become a member of a successful regime at Barcelona in the years to come.
