Barcelona will hold another meeting with Moussa Sissoko, the agent of Ousmane Dembele, next week after falling short with their latest contract proposal. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain are both showing strong interest in signing the French international, who is a free agent at the end of the season.
Barca coach Xavi has expressed a desire to keep the 24-year-old, but Barca president Joan Laporta is wary of increasing the club’s financial burden further amid continued cost-cutting and a demand for new signings.
Barca have held talks over a deal for Leeds United’s Brazilian winger Raphinha and are likely to allow Adama Traore to return to Wolves. They are also open to offers for Memphis Depay and would consider selling Frenkie de Jong if any suitor shows a willingness to pay around £75m.
Manchester United, who expect Paul Pogba to leave this summer, admire the Holland international, but not at that price. Dembele’s future will become clearer at next week’s meeting, which will be scheduled once the La Liga season finishes.
PSG, who have maintained an interest since attempting to sign Dembele in January, are in need of a winger with Angel di Maria expected to join Juventus after his agents held talks with the Italians this week.
Juventus are also among those to have spoken to Pogba’s lawyer, Rafaela Pimenta, who held a meeting with the Turin club on Monday. Dembele has struggled to live up to his £135 million price tag since he joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
He has suffered numerous injury problems during his time at the Camp Nou but has been one of their better performers this season, leading the LaLiga assist charts with 13 in just 20 appearances.
Laporta reportedly told Catalunya Radio that Dembele ‘wants to stay, but is very tempted by other options that offer better conditions.’
‘The offer has been presented for a long time, and they (Dembele’s representatives) have asked us for a time until the end of the season, next week’, Laporta added.
‘We already wanted an answer before, but we can’t force it because Dembele has ended his contract. The coach and I like him. We have made a very important effort to keep him. I see him very comfortably. There is a good personal relationship with everyone. [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang] has come with him, and they are very good friends.
‘He has some representatives who control the situation, but I hope he stays. If not, we will strengthen that position.’
Barça president Joan Laporta tells @totcosta: “Ousmane Dembélé? We made our new deal proposal and we’re waiting for his answer, next week”. 🔴 #FCB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 17, 2022
“He wanted to stay here at Barça but he’s now tempted by other options he considers better”.
