Barcelona 'suspicious' of Man Utd and Liverpool as Dembele situation escalates

Barcelona reportedly believe Ousmane Dembele is being offered to other clubs - including Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

The 24-year-old winger has continually been linked with a move to the Premier League, with his Nou Camp contract set to expire at the end of this season.

Barca are understood to be in talks over a new contract for Dembele with his agent Moussa Sissoko.

But talks last week didn't result in a positive outcome, and the La Liga giants suspect he is being offered to clubs in England's top flight, according to a report from Spain.

United, Liverpool and Chelsea are among the clubs Barca believe have been contacted, reports Mundo Deportivo, cited by Sport Witness.

Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati in training with Barcelona over the weekend ( Image:

Alejandro Garcia/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The report says the three clubs are waiting to see whether Dembele renews his contract before deciding whether to move for him, while Juventus have already 'offered to hire him' on a free transfer next summer.

Barca are said to want the France international to stay, but will look to sell him in the January transfer window if he hasn't signed a new deal by then.

He will of course be free to strike a pre-contract agreement with clubs from outside Spain once he enters the final six months of his contract.

Dembele has been sidelined by a hamstring issue, having been hampered by a catalogue of injuries since joining Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund for £121million in 2017.

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The report from Mundo Deportivo says his agent believes it would be best to wait until Dembele returns to action before making a decision on Barca's contract offer, which is understood to include a reduction in salary.

Last week, the same publication said United had shown 'most interest' in Dembele and were in 'open talks' with his representatives.

The Spanish outlet has also said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is following the winger with 'great attention', having previously been interested in signing Dembele before he joined Dortmund from Rennes in 2016.

Meanwhile, former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu claimed an English side tried to sign Dembele last year after being rebuffed in a £127million bid for teenage sensation Ansu Fati.

Reports at the time suggested it was Manchester United who wanted to bring 18-year-old Fati to the Premier League.

Bartomeu said: "In 2020, after the 'no' to Ansu, that English club asked us to sign Dembele for more than we paid for him. But we counted on him."

He said Dembele had been "unlucky" since joining Barca, adding: "He is a great player and I hope he will now show his quality."