While Barcelona fans deal with the news of Frenkie de Jong’s potential departure in the summer, there could be some optimism on the horizon with regard to the future of another of the Catalans’ key players.
As reported by Xavier Valls on OnzeTV3, Ousmane Dembele is getting closer to signing a new contract with Barcelona and is prepared to accept a lower offer than the ones being offered to him by clubs elsewhere.
The 24-year-old’s contract situation has been dominating the headlines for months now as his current deal runs out in June, meaning he can leave Camp Nou on a Bosman transfer.
Talks over a renewal looked dead and buried at the start of 2022. But Dembele’s improved form under Xavi Hernandez compelled the Blaugrana to restart negotiations as they sought to keep the talismanic forward at the club beyond the current campaign.
Multiple meetings have been held with his representatives, but an agreement is yet to be arrived at. Recent reports indicated that the signing-on fee demanded by one of Dembele’s agents was proving to be a roadblock in the two parties reaching a resolution.
But, as things stand, they may be arriving at a compromise as the club and the player’s camp look to close the deal at the earliest possible.
Dembele has no shortage of suitors heading into the summer, with reports even claiming that he has a verbal agreement with Paris Saint-Germain. However, the French international is believed to have always maintained privately that he wishes to continue at Barcelona.
And, as per the report, he is willing to accept a lower offer than some of the other proposals he has on the table currently in order to stay put at Camp Nou. It now remains to be seen whether the two parties reach an agreeable solution on the matter.
