Ousmane Dembélé’s future at Barcelona beyond this season is uncertain as his contract at the Camp Nou will run down in 2022.
The winger has not yet accepted the new offer made by the La Liga side, which includes a reduced salary. His situation has alerted other clubs, and Newcastle United are the latest to show interest in the 24-year-old.
On Wednesday, Foot Mercato reported the player is negotiating with the Magpies for a five-year deal worth €15m per season, along with a €15m signing on bonus since he could be available as a free agent next summer.
These claims are relayed by Mundo Deportivo, who state the aforementioned figures ‘collide’ with the Blaugrana’s intention to tie down the former Borussia Dortmund man to a new contract.
It’s claimed Ronald Koeman’s side continue talks with the France international’s agent, but the discussions are now ‘less fluid than expected by Barca’.
Mundo state Barcelona ‘don’t quite trust the [Dembélé’s] agent and Newcastle’, with the latter acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund earlier this month.
It looks like Newcastle’s entry into the picture for Dembélé has left Barca worried since the new Magpies owners can afford to pay him wages higher than what the Catalan club are currently offering.
On top of all of that, it won’t be lost on Barcelona that these claims originated in France, and therefore likely from a source close to the player’s camp.
