Lionel Messi view on Ousmane Dembele speaks volumes amid Newcastle transfer link

Newcastle United are likely to embark on a big transfer spending spree following their Saudi Arabian-backed takeover earlier this month.

Chief among their targets is Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele with the Magpies strongly linked with a move for the forward.

Dembele's former Barca teammate Lionel Messi has already given his verdict on the French forward in words that are bound to get fans of Newcastle excited.

Messi penned a two-year contract at Paris Saint-Germain this summer after the Catalan club were unable to register him on a new contract.

That exit would have allowed Dembele to step up to the attacking mantle at the Camp Nou but injury problems - that have hampered his entire stint at the club - have once again derailed his progress.

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Dembele and Messi spent four seasons together at Barcelona ( Image:

Getty Images Europe)

The French forward will be out of contract at Barca next summer and talks over a new deal at the club have come to a standstill with his future increasingly uncertain.

Dembele's future now remains in the balance and he could leave the club either as a free agent next summer or in a cut-price transfer this January should the Catalan giants look to recoup a fee.

There is little doubting the Frenchman's talent and while his injury record is likely to bring some level of concern, his former Argentine teammate was left in little doubt over his true potential.

Messi told an interview three years ago with Marca : "On the pitch he is a phenomenon and it depends on him, he has all the opportunity in the world to do what he wants.

"He can be one of the best.

"On the other hand, he's a young guy who is adapting to the city and the club.

"The less you speak about it, the better.

"It's necessary to leave him so he can be calm.

"He has already realised his mistakes and has rectified them. We are going to help him focus on football."

The 24-year-old has had an injury-hit four seasons at the Blaugrana and the club's well-documented precarious financial situation means that they are needing to cut costs.

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Barca have offered Dembele a new contract on reduced terms but the player's representatives have not given a positive response to the proposal and his future may now lie away from the club.

The Magpies interest follows report that Liverpool want to sign Dembele next year amid separate reports that Barca are suspicious that the player has been offered to multiple Premier League clubs as his representatives prepare for a move on a free transfer.

Newcastle's own precarious position - without a permanent coach in place and currently in the relegation zone - mean that big changes are likely in the months to come and Dembele may be the most high-profile incoming.

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