Reported Newcastle United transfer target Ousmane Dembele’s renaissance is showing no signs of slowing as the Frenchman played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s 4-0 win against Real Madrid.
Xavi’s side swept aside Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos in last night’s El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Catalan giants took the lead in the 29th minute through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who headed home Dembele’s right-footed cross from the by-line.
The Frenchman’s pace and trickery was too much for Nacho and his pinpoint cross was met by the former Arsenal striker.
Fast forward nine minutes, and Barcelona had doubled their lead and it was again via a cross from their number seven.
The World Cup winner’s corner was met by Ronald Araujo whose header proved too powerful for Thibaut Courtois.
Dembele nearly grabbed a goal of his own and Barcelona’s fifth, but his right-footed effort from inside the penalty area just missed the bottom corner.
His two assists against Madrid meant that Dembele has registered more assists than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues (7 assists in 7 games).
The former Borussia Dortmund winger finished the game with 64 touches and created three chances – no player from either side created more.
As well as completing two dribbles, the 24-year-old made two tackles and won five ground duels (SofaScore).
From his last five La Liga matches, Dembele has seven assists and one goal to his name. He’s in red-hot form and has completed a remarkable turnaround at the club given his contract uncertainty.
Despite Dembele’s Barcelona contract expiring in three months time and negotiations regarding a new deal coming to a standstill at the start of the year, Xavi continues to have the French international at the heart of his side.
The former Barcelona midfielder has transformed the club’s fortunes and there is a feel-good factor around the Spanish giants once again.
Dembele is one the most in-form players in Europe currently and the number of clubs circling as his contract continues to run down at the Nou Camp will likely be growing with every passing influential performance.
According to Marca, Newcastle were one of three Premier League teams who were monitoring Dembele towards the end of the January transfer window.
Newcastle have been linked with a blockbuster move for the French superstar ever since the club’s lucrative takeover went through.
Dembele is the type of player that fans pay to come and see alone and in his current frightening form, luring the two-footed forward to Tyneside would be massive coup by PIF.
With a clean bill of health, Dembele is showing the Barcelona hierarchy and the rest of Europe the quality he possesses.
Newcastle cannot let an opportunity to sign a world-class player of his ilk pass by without putting together a lucrative financial package that could tempt Dembele to make the switch to St James’ Park.
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