Chelsea favourites to sign in-demand star Tuchel hailed as 'extraordinary' talent

The Blues are closing in on a deal to make the France international the first transfer of the Todd Boehly era, with Dembele available on a free at the end of June when his contract expires.

Dembele moved to the Nou Camp in 2017 for almost £100million - in a deal that supposedly could rise to staggering £135.5m [€147m] - and made 150 appearances across five seasons for Barcelona.

That included his most productive campaign for the club last term, where in 21 appearances the winger racked up 13 assists for the Spanish side, scoring two goals in the process.

But his spell with the Catalan giants will be remembered as one of unfulfilled potential due to persistent injury troubles for the 25-year-old.

With no new contract likely to be agreed at this point, a move away from Barcelona appears likely.

And talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook says west London seems his most likely destination, where he would be reunited with his former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel.

Crook told talkSPORT: "This one has really taken off overnight. Chelsea look like they are favourites to sign Ousmane Dembele on a free transfer.

"He's been letting his contract run down at Barcelona and he would be the first signing of the Todd Boehly era.

"How do you think that would go down with Chelsea fans?"

Host Sam Matterface responded: "Well, they need firepower, don't they? Someone who actually scores goals.

"I haven't looked at his statistics of what he's registered over the last few years, but that is the priority area for Chelsea, putting the ball in the net.

"They tried to solve it with Romelu Lukaku, they've relied on Kai Havertz as a number nine over the course of the season but they just haven't got enough goals, have they?

"It's been a problem for them."

Tuchel reserved huge praise for Dembele from their time together at Borussia Dortmund.

The Frenchman also struck up a brilliant partnership with current Chelsea ace Christian Pulisic at the German club.

Dembele spent just one season at Dortmund, where his stunning performances and productive return of ten goals and 21 assists in 49 games led to his huge-money move to Barcelona.

With Tuchel's side struggling for regular goals, Dembele could be the prefect addition to his forward line, with the German previously praising his ability.

"Of course, we love his dribbling, we love his bravery, we love his pace, his control on the ball, we know a lot of the facets of his game from the training," Tuchel said during his spell in charge at the Westfalenstadion.

"Ousmane is a player who brilliantly combines dribbling, passing and making space to a very high level. That's extraordinary."