Earlier this month, Sport reported Chelsea will be ‘on the lookout’ for Ousmane Dembélé and would be keen on signing the Barcelona player for a ‘reasonable price’ in the summer.
The winger’s current deal lasts until the end of next season and the extension talks cannot take place until the La Liga side have a new board. The club’s presidential elections will be held in March.
Sunday’s edition of Sport explains the 23-year-old has already expressed his desire to continue at the Catalan club.
The France international, who is in no rush to renew, is waiting for the club’s new president.
It needs to be seen whether the new Barcelona board will be able to find an agreement to extend the former Borussia Dortmund man’s contract beyond 2022.
This is where Chelsea come into the picture as Sport adds the Blues and Juventus will ‘push hard’ for the wideman. It’s even stated the Serie A winners would be in a better position to present a ‘very attractive economic proposal’.
If Dembélé decides against signing an extension before the end of this season, Ronald Koeman’s side will be in ‘poor condition’ to negotiate his sale.
Barcelona will have to balance their books due to the financial impact caused by the coronavirus crisis. Therefore, they will have to consider selling their key players and Dembélé could be one of those sacrificed.
Chelsea ‘will bid’ for Dembélé in the summer, but his ‘first option’ is to negotiate a new contract with Barcelona’s president.
