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Blow for Manchester United as 24-year-old target set to extend contract at La Liga club

Manchester United target Ousmane Dembele. (Getty Images)
Manchester United target Ousmane Dembele. (Getty Images)

Manchester United dealt transfer blow as Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele set to sign new contract

According to Spanish publication Diario Sport (h/t ESPN), Manchester United have been dealt a transfer blow as Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele is set to sign a new contract soon. There was uncertainty surrounding his future at Camp Nou, prompting clubs to take note of the situation but this update would probably put an end to these interests.

Dembele has a contract with Barca, which will expire at the end of the current season. That means he could have reached a pre-contract agreement with other clubs in the January transfer window if he wanted a move elsewhere. However, he is expected to sign an extension next week, pledging his future with the Catalans.

Other clubs like Liverpool and Juventus have kept tabs on the Frenchman alongside United. But his desire to stay in Spain and the new five-year deal would essentially deal a damning blow to the interested parties. The new contract would also have a lesser salary package to cope with the financial issues at his club.

Man United dealt transfer blow as Barcelona ace Dembele set to sign new contract.
Dembele is set to sign a new deal soon.

Not the end of the road

Time will tell whether the 24-year-old made the right decision on his future by staying at a place where they are going through a crisis. Since moving to the Blaugrana club, he has not enjoyed a great time, having struggled with injuries that kept him on the sidelines for long periods.

Those who followed the France international at Borussia Dortmund and Stade Rennes would know that he did not endure such setbacks before. A change could have helped him to regain his old fitness and get back on the path to reaching his potential. And it’s not like he would have struggled for minutes here, considering our current situation.

We could have used the La Liga attacker’s services, looking at the potential problem that could unravel in the future. Cristiano Ronaldo is nearing his career’s twilight, whereas Edinson CavaniAnthony Martial and Jesse Lingard have uncertainty surrounding their long term future.

Ousmane Dembele is expected to sign an extension with Barcelona. (GETTY Images)
Ousmane Dembele is expected to sign an extension with Barcelona. (GETTY Images)

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It is always tough to lose out on a talented prospect, but this would not be the end of the road for us. There would always be other options in the market as more and more players are making their way to the top. At the same time, this doesn’t mean anything is confirmed or guaranteed.

It would be wiser to wait for confirmation from the Catalan giants themselves. Until then, nothing can be fully ruled out. Hopefully, the contract doesn’t get renewed so that we can snap him up on the cheap considering his contract expires in 2022.

Written by Rijo Sam Daniel

A football enthusiast who is madly in love with the game

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