Over the past few weeks, Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembélé has been linked to Newcastle United, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea have become the latest club to be thrown into the mix for the winger, whose contract expires in 2022.
The La Liga side want to tie him down to a new deal and their offer, between a fixed wage and bonuses, would make him the highest paid player at the club.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo journalist Cristina Cubero, who says the 24-year-old keeps insisting he is happy at the Catalan club, when approached by Barca leaders.
The club ‘continues to trust Dembélé’s words’, but there is no certainty as to what they can offer, taking Financial Fair Play into account. Meanwhile, Chelsea ‘squeeze’ to sign the France international.
The Champions League winners have the ‘capacity to pay’ both the attacker and his agent, to take him away from Barcelona.
With Chelsea now joining other clubs in the chase for the Frenchman, it will only make it harder for Barca to retain him beyond this season.
Over at Sport, it’s said that Barcelona are aware Dembélé’s environment ‘were seen with’ Chelsea and a few other sides in recent weeks.
The player’s agent is delaying negotiations with the Spanish club. This is done with an intention to hold talks with other interested clubs from January 1st, with a view to joining them on a free transfer next summer.
