Ousmane Dembele.(Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Ousmane Dembele is now officially a free agent, yet any decision regarding his next move is far from made. Barcelona could still offer him a new deal, but they seem to be more focused on hijacking Raphinha’s move to Chelsea.
In the event that Raphinha arrives, Dembele is likely to fall down Xavi’s pecking order and the Frenchman will be well aware of the implications of a big-money arrival vying for the same position as him could mean during a World Cup year.
Reports have linked Liverpool with a move for Dembele but those have now been seemingly refuted. According to HITC (h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool have issued a warning to Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko.
It is believed that the Liverpool links in the media were mostly being orchestrated by Sissoko to help leverage an improved deal from Barcelona. Liverpool are naturally unhappy about the situation and have warned the agent to not spread any such rumours since they are not interested in Dembele.
The 25-year-old has a strong connection with Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, as Dembele had arguably the most productive spell of his career under the German. During the one season that the pair shared at Borussia Dortmund, Dembele scored 10 goals and provided 22 assists in 50 games – breaking out as one of Europe’s most exciting, young talents.
Dembele hasn’t been able to realise his true potential since moving to Barcelona, owing to a number of reasons but primarily due to several injuries and long spells on the touchline. The Catalan side’s pursuit of big-money names like Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha will make it even more difficult for them to renew Dembele’s contract and at the moment, their transfer activity does suggest that they are preparing for life without their club-record acquisition.
Chelsea, too, seem to be focused elsewhere at the moment as the Boehly-Clearlake administration work on deals for Raheem Sterling and Matthijs de Ligt. The Blues will be well aware of Dembele’s free agency and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if we hear Chelsea making an offer in the coming days.
Dembele can be a valuable addition to Tuchel’s squad, but there is obvious concern surrounding his fitness record. If Dembele can stay clear of frequent injuries, he has the potential to be one of the best free signings in recent memory.
There’s also talk of Neymar – the man Dembele replaced at Barcelona, potentially joining Chelsea. However, negotiations are far from advanced at this stage.
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