Ousmane Dembele’s agent has been delaying contract renegotiations with Barcelona because of interest from Manchester United.
That’s what Sport report today, explaining that the situation is now progressing towards the Frenchman staying at the Camp Nou.
The newspaper explains that Barcelona were determined to leave Dembele in the stands until he signed a new contract, but there have been ‘important steps’ in the last few days to resolve the issue.
His continuity at the club is now ‘closer’ to being a reality as the Frenchman has told his agents that he wants to stay at Barcelona.
They are now working to reach a ‘satisfactory agreement’, but there is a feeling that the two parties are entering ‘the final straight’.
There is no definitive agreement as yet, but Barcelona are more optimistic than they have been in recent months when Dembele had looked very likely to leave on a free in the summer.
The forward has been linked with a number of clubs in that time, including Manchester United, who are long-term admirers of him.
The player’s willingness to sign a new deal has been key to the turnaround as it’s meant his agents have changed tact.
They were ‘delaying the process’ because of the interest from the likes of Manchester United, Juventus and Chelsea, but their client has now made his intentions clear, and they are working to satisfy them.
While it will not be an easy negotiation, Barcelona hope everything will be resolved at some time this month as ‘relations are very good’ and Dembele is keen to get a deal signed and repay the club for the faith shown in him.
