Barcelona were hoping that Manchester United would come forward and pay around €50-60m for Ousmane Dembélé on deadline day.
This was partly due to their own pursuit of Lyon’s Memphis Depay, who has been identified as one of the priority targets by Ronald Koeman.
We covered the situation earlier today as the La Liga side didn’t rule out the Red Devils making a last ditch effort for the 23-year-old.
Sport again reiterates the winger has dropped down the pecking order at the Camp Nou, but that doesn’t convince him to leave the Catalan club.
United still remain the most interested club to sign the Frenchman, but they haven’t tabled an offer that is attractive to both the wideman and his employer.
Barca, for their part, are willing to let the player leave on loan, provided a mandatory purchase option is included. They are looking for around €60m as a transfer fee next summer.
The Old Trafford club have not met these conditions and unless and until they ‘radically’ change their attitude, Dembélé will continue with his current employer.
Even if United agree a loan deal with a mandatory purchase option, the ex-Borussia Dortmund man will not accept a move because he will only join United on a permanent deal. That’s because he wants a long-term contract, should he decide to leave Koeman’s side.
RMC Sport, meanwhile, explain Dembélé is determined to continue at Barcelona and they rule out any possibility of the attacker joining United on deadline day.
