Barcelona have decided to sell Ousmane Dembele this month if he doesn’t agree to sign a contract extension in the next 24 hours(20th January midnight). It is believed that Barcelona have lost their patience with the player and his agent after 5 months of contract negotiations this season. Xavi is keen on keeping the player at Camp Nou but agrees with the club’s situation in this matter and if rumors are to be believed, he has been instructed not to select Dembele in his starting eleven from now on.
The 24-year-old French forward has been struggling with form and fitness since his arrival at Camp Nou from Borussia Dortmund in the 2017 summer for a transfer fee of £120 million. But the attacking winger has failed to prove his big-money move worth with just 18 goals in 87 La Liga matches. He is struggling for fitness as well and has never crossed 30+ league appearances in the last five years. This season he has featured in just 6 out of 20 league matches due to foot injury and has yet to score in any competition so far.
Despite his struggles, Ousmane Dembele is demanding a £700,000-a-week contract offer to sign an extension as he has just six months remaining on his current deal at Barcelona. This will make him one of the highest-earning football players in the world. Barcelona are reluctant to meet his demands due to their financial situation and mainly because they don’t feel he is worth that. Barcelona have made an improved contract offer already and now decided not to give in player’s demands. They are looking to sell him as soon as possible to raise some funds instead of losing him on a free transfer this month.
Xavi Set To Freeze Out Ousmane Dembele After Player’s Agent Hits Out At Club For Threatening His Client:
RMC Sport reports that Barcelona have decided not to play Dembele this season if he doesn’t agree to a contract extension in the next 24 hours. Ousmane Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko, who has been negotiating a contract for the last few months, has hit back at the Catalan giants for pressuring his client into signing a new contract. He also accused the club for threatening Dembele with his place in the first team.
“They’re putting the pressure on, but it doesn’t work with people like us. Maybe it works with agents who are close to Barcelona. That’s not the case with me, I’m here to defend my player’s interests,”
“We’re not here to react to debates on social media, but the truth has to be said. Yes, we have high demands, but we’ve shown in the past that Ousmane’s career choices are not dictated by money, else he wouldn’t be here” – Moussa Sissoko, Dembele’s agent.
Barcelona manager Xavi has been shocked after hearing player’s wage demands but still, he wants Dembele at Camp Nou but not like this. Xavi played Dembele for full 120 minutes in their latest match against Real Madrid which they lost by 2-3 and once again Dembele struggled. Now the same reports suggest that Xavi is with the club over their decision to freeze out Dembele for the rest of the season.
“The message is clear, Ousmane Dembélé has to sign a new contract or we find a way to sell him in January. No other way. I also wonder why the agent is talking the way he is and Dembélé, on the other hand, telling me he wants to stay. I can’t understand.” – Xavi stated today.
Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Liverpool are looking to sign the former Borussia Dortmund star on a free transfer. But if Barcelona choose to sell him this month then Newcastle United remain the only realistic target for Dembele. The Magpies have strong interest in the player and they are willing to match the player’s wage demands as well so fans have a real chance to see Dembele playing in the Premier League next month.