Pranav Nair
Transfer News: Boost for Manchester United as Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele still apart in contract extension
According to the transfer news section of the Spanish publication Sport (h/t Sport Witness), Barcelona may be forced to put Ousmane Dembele for sale this summer amidst interest from Manchester United.
The 23-year-old is on his day a wonderful player who can make a difference up top. However, a spate of injuries has severely impacted his time at the Nou Camp.
Dembele appears to have put his injury woes behind him this season, scoring nine goals and assisting four in 35 appearances across all competitions. (h/t Transfermarkt)
With his contract set to expire in 2022, Barcelona have a decision to make regarding the player’s future. Club president Joan Laporta and manager Ronald Koeman are both keen to keep the player at the club.
Dembele is seeking a raise in his salary and this continues to be a bone of contention in negotiations. According to the report, his demands are not considered feasible in the current financial climate.
If a new deal cannot be agreed upon before the summer, Barcelona will be forced to put the player on sale. Having paid an impressive £96.8m (initial payment) for the player in 2017, losing him for free would be catastrophic.
Need for speed?
United have been interested in Dembele for some time now and came close to landing him last summer. The Red Devils are keen to amplify their interest and are in touch with the player’s camp.
However, the club face a decision before they make a move for the Frenchman. They could either bid for him the coming summer or decide to wait until next year and land him for free.
What the likes of Ed Woodward and John Murtaugh decide to do remains to be seen.
More Manchester United News
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- Manchester United captain Harry Maguire reveals cordial relations with City defender John Stone
Dembele is on his day a brilliant player and has all the makings of a world-beater. At just 23, he has his best years ahead of him and could prove to be a massive asset for United in the seasons to come.
Hopefully, the interest will reach a boiling point soon and should not develop into the saga of the summer. We have had enough of them in the past.
