Ousmane Dembele is staring at an uncertain summer ahead. Although the Frenchman should have no problems finding a new club next season, it appears the winger is gunning for an extended stay at Barcelona.
Dembele has an excellent relationship with Xavi, who has urged the Barcelona board to prioritise his renewal before the end of the season. But the operation could be tricky thanks to the hefty wage demands from the player’s representatives.
Recent reports suggest Dembele is willing to lower his demands, but he is still holding out for a lucrative signing bonus that could make things difficult for the Catalans.
In light of such uncertainty, other clubs have already started their efforts to sign Ousmane Dembele next season. With the player’s contract expiring at the end of the season, he will be available on a free transfer this summer, making him an appealing target for European giants.
According to Santi Aouna, one of the clubs in contention to sign the former Borussia Dortmund starlet is Paris Saint-Germain.
With many expecting Kylian Mbappe to join Real Madrid after the end of the season, the Parisian juggernaut are in the market for a new attacker.
Dembele, to that end, has emerged as one of the club’s top targets. The winger has experience playing in the French top-flight and would embrace the opportunity to reunite with his ex-Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi.
The report suggests PSG had already reached a verbal agreement with Dembele surrounding a summer move to Paris. That agreement still stands even as Barça look to tie the winger down to a new long-term contract.
The Catalans certainly have the upper hand in this saga, thanks to the player’s relationship with Xavi. But how much financial sacrifice the club are willing to make in order to extend Dembele’s deal remains to be seen.
