On New Year’s Eve, Sport explained that Manchester United have been in contact with the agent of Ousmane Dembélé ‘for months’ and have sent a ‘firm proposal’ to the Barcelona player.
The winger’s contract expires in less than six months and he’s refused to sign a new deal at the Camp Nou so far.
According to ara, the La Liga side must lower their wage bill in order to register new signing Ferran Torres.
One way to achieve that is by convincing the France international to renew his contract for a fixed lower salary, which will not only help them save on wages, but also gives the Catalan club more time to pay the remaining €27m fee that is to be amortised. However, his agent is demanding a deal that Xavi Hernández’s side cannot afford.
The Spanish giants have a new meeting scheduled with the 24-year-old’s representative, to see if a resolution can be found over an extension. If the ex-Borussia Dortmund man continues without a new deal, Barca will then look to sell him in January.
It’s claimed Barcelona are aware of Manchester United’s interest in the World Cup winner. The Camp Nou side’s negotiators have ‘polled with the English club’ to see if they would be willing to carry out an exchange deal involving Dembélé and Anthony Martial.
Barca’s idea is to take Martial on a loan deal and sell his compatriot to United in January. It’s explained that ‘United’s response to Barça’s conditional proposal is predisposing’.
Sevilla are also interested in the former AS Monaco man, but the Camp Nou side’s latest polls have paralysed Martial’s move to Andalusia for the time being.
The deal involving the French duo is ‘complicated’ and ‘would only be executed’ if Dembélé decides not to accept Barcelona’s latest renewal offer.
Claims made by ara are relayed by Sport, who then add at Barca, ‘they are clear’, that if Dembélé doesn’t want to commit his long-term future to the club, the ‘best thing for him is to leave’ this month so that it can help them lower their salary budget.
