Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Ousmane Dembele hints at Barcelona stay?

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 June 2022, 22:19
Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele has possibly hinted that he would be willing to extend his stay at Barcelona ahead of his contract expiry.

The France international's current deal at Camp Nou only has a couple more weeks left to run, and talks over a new contract with the club are yet to yield a positive solution.

A recent report claimed that Dembele had rejected the club's final offer of a new deal, and with Barcelona not willing to increase the terms on the table, he would likely head elsewhere this summer.

Chelsea have been most strongly linked with a move for Dembele in recent months, with the 25-year-old keen to reunite with ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel.

Paris Saint-Germain continue to be credited with an interest as well, but Dembele has seemingly offered hope that his time at Barcelona is not done and dusted just yet.

As reported by The Mirror, Dembele was spotted in a car by a Barcelona fan, who asked the attacker if he was remaining in Catalonia for the 2022-23 season, to which he responded "yes".

Dembele also claimed that speculation surrounding a move to Chelsea was only "rumours" and also added: "I'm good at Barcelona", which could indicate that he may sign fresh terms with the La Liga club.

However, president Joan Laporta recently claimed that he had been left in the dark by the player and his agent Moussa Sissoko after presenting the pair with a renewal offer.

"Dembele has an offer to stay, but we have no news that he's accepted it. We haven't had a reply from him," Laporta told the press.

Dembele has registered a total of 32 goals and 34 assists in 149 outings for Barcelona since his £126m move in the summer of 2017, but he has missed a further 102 matches through injury or illness.

Barcelona were unable to force the former Rennes youngster out of the door for a cut-price fee in January, but Dembele managed to return to form under Xavi in the second half of the season.

Dembele provided a league-high 13 assists in 21 La Liga games for La Blaugrana, although he only managed two goals in all competitions and was forced to compete with numerous star names in the Barca attack.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shone alongside Dembele following his January arrival, and Ferran Torres is also expected to remain on the books at Camp Nou beyond the summer.

Adama Traore and Luuk de Jong are not expected to pen permanent deals following below-par loan spells, while Memphis Depay and Martin Braithwaite are also being tipped to leave in the coming weeks.

Ahead of Dembele's possible exit, Barcelona are still working on a deal for Leeds United's Raphinha, while Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski also remains a top priority.

Top News

13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk "Brentford are very much an Achilles heel-type team for Manchester City", Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole ahead of Tuesday's Premier League contest between the two sides at the Gtech Community Stadium. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Heidenheim are in the relegation playoff spot in the Bundesliga table heading into Wednesday's gameweek 17 visit to mid-table Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have announced that 19-year-old centre-back Alfie Dorrington has signed a new contract and will spend the rest of the season on loan at Aberdeen. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly received enquiries from both Real Betis and Olympiacos for Antony. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany is 'worried' that one of the Citizens' academy starlets could replicate Morgan Rogers in leaving the club and starring elsewhere at Premier League level. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly entered talks with Borussia Dortmund over the possibility of offloading Carney Chukwuemeka on loan. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid will travel to the Estadio Martinez Valero for Wednesday's Copa del Rey clash against second-tier Elche. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to receive a formal offer from AC Milan for Marcus Rashford. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Arsenal and Tottenham are both balancing injury-hit squads when they clash for the season's second north London derby this week. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Borussia Dortmund are looking to sign two Chelsea players this month. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Following a brief Premier League pause for the third round of the FA Cup, all 20 top-flight teams resume their respective quests for glory, Europe or to simply salvage their big-time status in midweek. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Luis Enrique offered a peculiar answer when asked about speculation over the future of Randal Kolo Muani at Paris Saint-Germain. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The final Coupe de France fixture in the round of 32 will pit French minnows Espaly-Saint-Marcel against the reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Manchester United will be fined by the FA for breaching the same rule for a third time this season against Arsenal. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The final match of the round of 16 in the 2024-25 Taca de Portugal will see Braga playing host to Lusitano Evora 1911 at Estadio Municipal de Braga on Wednesday night. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Pep Guardiola didn't hold back when confronted by persistent autograph seekers, delivering a blunt and heated response to them. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Marcus Rashford could be denied a move to Serie A this month by Brexit. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City and Crystal Palace meet for the 24th time in the Premier League when they lock horns at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner could be able to welcome as many as four players back to his starting XI for the trip to Leicester City in the Premier League on Wednesday. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruud van Nistelrooy may name an unchanged Leicester City side when they face Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Wednesday. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton and Liverpool's postponed Premier League Merseyside derby has been rescheduled for February 12, which could still pose a potential problem for the Reds. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides competing near the bottom of the Premier League table meet at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday, when Leicester City host Crystal Palace. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a seventh straight league win, reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan will welcome Bologna to San Siro on Wednesday evening. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Leicester are poised to announce the £3million signing of Parma right-back Woyo Coulibaly, talkSPORT understands. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Enzo Maresca gave the perfect response to an awkward question in his latest Chelsea press conference. 13 January 2025 talksport.com Kyle Walker has told Saudi Pro League bosses he wants to stay in Europe, talkSPORT understands. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers, looking to build on their current five-game unbeaten streak, will host struggling Aberdeen at Ibrox Stadium on Wednesday night in the Scottish Premiership. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Battling it out for a last-16 spot in this season's Coupe de France, Brest and Nantes will meet at Stade Francis-Le Ble on Wednesday evening. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fifth-tier underdogs Thaon will aim to continue their fairytale Coupe de France run when they host Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg at the Stade de la Colombiere on Wednesday in the round of 32. 13 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk 2023 Coupe de France winners Toulouse will aim to make it into the next round of the competition when they host second-tier Laval at Toulouse Stadium on Wednesday.