A new contract is in line for Ousmane Dembele.
Barcelona are eager to tie winger Ousmane Dembele down to a new contract and preliminary talks with the Frenchman’s agent are already underway.
Dembele, who’s current deal expires in 2022, has endured a challenging few years at Camp Nou and was heavily linked with a move away during the summer; with Manchester United pursuing a loan deal towards the end of the window.
Such a move failed to materialise, and Ronald Koeman has offered Dembele a route back into the first team this season. The winger has managed three goals in eight appearances so far, and Mundo Deportivo believe he is closing in on a new contract.
Barcelona have been working to strike a deal with Dembele for a while, with the player also eager to put pen to paper on a new contract.
It’s suggested that the groundwork is being done now before the new president comes in to finalise things.
However, the tone of the article makes it seem more like Barcelona are trying to protect their £136m investment, rather than show commitment to the French winger.
It’s said that this extension will be offered regardless of whether a bid for Dembele arrives, and the only commitment about his future is that the 23-year-old will not be sold in January because of the injury to Ansu Fati.
The report goes on to state that Dembele accepts that nobody wants to pay £40m for an injury-hit winger during the COVID-19 outbreak, so he’s ready to tie himself to Barcelona for a little while longer.
Despite that, there are still unconvincing rumours that United could choose to reignite their interest.
MD have previously suggested the Red Devils have made Dembele a ‘priority signing’, although they seem to deflect their responsibility for the story over to the Daily Mail, who do the exact same thing on their end.
United did bring in Uruguayan winger Facundo Pellistri during the summer and also shelled out £37m on Atalanta starlet Amad Diallo, who will move to Old Trafford in January, so the chances of a new move for Dembele appear slim.
All signs are pointing to an extension for Dembele, but how long he stays in Catalonia remains to be seen.
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