Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Chelsea confident over Ousmane Dembele transfer, but face anxious wait as suitors pile in

Ousmane Dembele, Javi Galan Barcelona v Celta Vigo May 2022

Chelsea will go back in for Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele once they have their new owners, but reportedly face an anxious transfer wait.

The Blues made only one signing last summer in £97.5million striker Romelu Lukaku. A quiet January transfer window made this summer important, but the recent turmoil at the club has cranked up the pressure.

Chelsea require new centre-backs, with Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger both leaving.

However, the Blues also want to bolster their attack again – and France international Dembele is a top target.

Like Christensen and Rudiger, he is in the final year of his contract and so is looking for a new club. Barcelona wanted him gone in January, but the player stood firm.

Chelsea in fact led the race for Dembele in the winter window. 90min therefore reports that the Blues will go back in for the 25-year-old once they have new owners in place.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ part-owner Todd Boehly is leading a consortium that is hoping to get the green light to take Chelsea over.

And 90min adds that the capture of Dembele is ‘one of their most pressing concerns’.

Chelsea not only Dembele suitors

However, they must wait in the hope that the winger’s other suitors do not snap him up first.

Paris Saint-Germain have had an offer on the table for him for some time.

Bayern Munich are reportedly new to the negotiating table but nevertheless fancy their chances of a deal.

However, Chelsea hope and feel confident that Dembele feels Stamford Bridge is his preferred destination.

Winger would suit Chelsea system

Frenkie de Jong celebrates scoring their second goal with Ousmane Dembele, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrate a goal during LaLiga match against Valencia

Dembele has had his injury problems throughout his spell at Barca since his 2017 move from Borussia Dortmund.

However, when he has had stability in the team, he has shown strong form.

Following two spells out with a knee injury and coronavirus this season, Dembele has featured in 14 of the last 15 La Liga games.

And he has contributed one goal and 11 assists in that time.

Ousmane Dembele contract talks open again with Barcelona

Ousmane Dembele contract talks open again with Barcelona

Barcelona have opened talks with Ousmane Dembele again after failing to sign Liverpool winger Mo Salah

While he would hope to avoid injury problems if he moved to Chelsea, their depth in attack means he would move in and out of the team based on his form.

Indeed, boss Thomas Tuchel has used Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz interchangeably in the centre-forward role. Meanwhile, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner are all jostling for game time out wide.

As such, Dembele would be able to find his feet at Stamford Bridge if he got the move.