Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Ousmane Dembele ditches superior offers to arrive at final Barcelona decision – with key compromise

Barcelona ace Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele is about to sign a two-year contract extension with Barcelona despite links with Chelsea, reports are revealing.

Dembele is technically a free agent at present after the end of his most recent contract with Barcelona. However, the La Liga giants are still seemingly in control of his destiny. They have been working on a renewal offer for the winger.

In the meantime, Dembele has also been linked with a reunion with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea. But it seems he is ready to disappoint his former boss by committing to Barcelona instead.

According to Diario Sport, Dembele will sign new terms with his existing employers for two years. Both player and club have made compromises to reach an agreement.

Dembele has accepted a lower salary than he initially desired – and what was on offer from elsewhere. But Barcelona have given him the shorter-term deal he was preferring, instead of a longer-term one they would have favoured.

Confirmation of a deal would depend on Barcelona’s financial status. However, there is optimism they can confirm Dembele’s stay by the middle of next week.

Small details have been resolved after meetings between Dembele’s agent and the club. Therefore, head coach Xavi is going to get his way; he has wanted the Frenchman to remain at his disposal all along.

Renewing Dembele will not stop Barcelona’s pursuit of Leeds United wide man Raphinha. Indeed, Sport suggest Xavi’s dream front three will consist of Dembele, Raphinha and Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski.

Raheem Sterling over Ousmane Dembele for Chelsea

Raheem Sterling over Ousmane Dembele for Chelsea

Chelsea believe that Raheem Sterling is the better option compared to Ousmane Dembele due to poor injury record

The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres, Memphis Depay and Ansu Fati will be watching on with intrigue to see what that may mean for their roles. There is a feeling Depay could be the man to amicably separate from the club.

Ousmane Dembele unlikely to disappear from transfer columns

Even if Dembele’s renewal at Barcelona is registered, his future will be a topic of intrigue again soon enough.

By only agreeing to a two-year extension, rumours about him could quite feasibly crop up again next summer, when there would only be 12 months left on his new terms.

For now, though, he will be hoping to help Barcelona restore themselves to a position of pride. If he can avoid injuries, he could be an important player for their trophy hopes.

Meanwhile, suitors Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign Raheem Sterling from Manchester City instead.