Barcelona worried that Ousmane Dembele has a ‘plan’ to run down lucrative contract and leave for free in 2022 amid ongoing Manchester United links
- Barcelona are reportedly anxious regarding the next move of Ousmane Dembele
- The Frenchman has not committed to a new deal at the Nou Camp
- Dembele’s contract runs out in 2022, meaning in 13 months he can negotiate
- He would be able to leave for free and obtain a more lucrative deal elsewhere
Barcelona are reportedly growing increasingly anxious regarding the future plans of their French starlet Ousmane Dembele.
The 23-year-old has not signed a new deal at the Nou Camp, creating speculation regarding his future with a host of European clubs known to be monitoring his progress.
Dembele’s current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2022, meaning in just 13 months the striker is able to negotiate with clubs regarding a free transfer.
Barcelona have growing fears that Ousmane Dembele has a ‘plan’ to leave the club for free
Spanish publication Sport now claim that Barca are of the opinion that Dembele has a ‘plan‘ and already knows what his next steps will be.
The report states that it was ‘no secret that Barcelona tried to sell Dembele in the summer’ but the player repeatedly insisted he would not be leaving the club.
Cash-strapped Barca had hoped to both generate funds with the potential sale of Dembele, while shifting him off a vastly inflated wage bill.
In just 13 months Dembele can start to negotiate with other teams regarding a free transfer
Now, with Dembele’s contract running down and talks at an impasse, Barca are faced with the prospect of taking a huge financial loss.
The Spanish giants signed Dembele in August 2017 for an initial £96million, with the potential to rise to £132m.
Dembele was swiftly acquired following Neymar’s shock move to Paris Saint Germain, with Barca giving in to Dortmund’s steep financial demands in order to get their man.
A £368m release clause was inserted into Dembele’s Barca contract, but now the club run the real risk of seeing the player walk away without them recouping a penny.
Dembele has been handed a reprieve by Ronald Koeman with Barca hoping for a new deal
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is tipped to move for Dembele as an alternative to Jadon Sancho
Manchester United have been heavily linked with the youngster and were widely tipped to make a late move in the summer, following a failed pursuit of Jadon Sancho.
United are set to return for Sancho at the end of the season, though Dembele is seen by many as a ready-made alternative.
The upcoming summer window would provide the final chance for Barca to sell their asset for a cut-price fee, should he continue to refuse to pen a new deal.
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