Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly prioritising signing Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele in a Bosman move this summer.
According to a report by French outlet Foot Mercato, Paris Saint-Germain will prioritise the signing of Ousmane Dembele in a Bosman move in the summer transfer window. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is in talks with Barcelona and PSG but is yet to take a final call on his future.
PSG will enter a new era in the summer transfer window, with Kylian Mbappe extending his stay at Parc des Princes, which was crucial for the Qatari owners during the World Cup year. The French international’s renewal will precede the likely ousters of Leonardo and Mauricio Pochettino, with Les Parisiens poised to head into a new direction.
But whichever way they look, the Ligue 1 champions will need to sign a new wide attacker, with Angel Di Maria’s fruitful spell at the club officially ending next month. And Dembele is a viable option to fill the void left by the departure of the veteran Argentine, with the Barcelona forward’s impending status as a free agent making him an appealing target.
But Barcelona will not let the 25-year-old depart without giving a fight. The Blaugrana recently bumped their contract offer for Dembele, and they are eager to see the player stay put at Camp Nou beyond the summer transfer window instead of leaving as a free agent.
However, PSG’s reported contract offer to Dembele easily trumps the one from Barcelona, meaning the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner’s prospective continued stay at FC Barcelona will be on good faith more than anything else. That said, the Catalan giants are hopeful of seeing Dembele staying put at Camp Nou beyond the summer transfer window.
The French forward has enjoyed an excellent 2021/22 campaign despite becoming a pantomime villain for Barcelona fans in the wake of his long-dragging contract renewal talks. Dembele has supplied more assists than any other player in La Liga this season (13) despite playing only 21 games.
If his fitness situation improves, Barcelona or PSG will have a genuinely world-class performer in their ranks. And while the French giants are prioritising signing Dembele following Mbappe’s renewal, he could end up remaining at FC Barcelona beyond the summer transfer window.