Barcelona boss Xavi remains hopeful that Ousmane Dembele will sign a new contract with the Catalan club, amid speculation that Newcastle United want to sign him.
90 Mins reported this week that Newcastle are keen on bringing Dembele from Barcelona to St. James’ Park in the summer of 2022.
Talks over a new contract have reportedly broken down between the Frenchman and the La Liga side.
As things currently stand, the World Cup winner is set to leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season as a free agent.
With six-months remaining on his current contract, the 24-year-old is able to negotiate with foreign clubs regarding a potential free transfer in the summer.
But football journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on what Xavi’s current stance is regarding the former Borussia Dortmund man.
The former Barcelona midfielder claims that the club will speak with Dembele’s agent again regarding a potential new contract, but Xavi revealed he was waiting for Ousmane Dembele ‘to make a gesture’ to show that he wants to stay at the Europa League side.
Barcelona, who recently announced the signing of Ferran Torres, have been trying to tie Dembele down to a new deal. But in the last few days, reports surfaced that talks between player and club have now broken down.
Romano said the situation was now ‘very complicated’ and ‘in real danger’.
Barca were reportedly told they are not able to give Dembele the salary he wants.
In another tweet, Romano reported that there are two English clubs currently monitoring Dembele’s situation amid the breakdown of talks with Barcelona.
He says that they have both approached Dembele to sign as a free agent and have offered big salaries.
Romano went on to say Newcastle are not the only team from the Premier League interested. But PIF could be targeting Dembele as the club’s statement signing in the summer, if our top-flight status is retained.
Newcastle have been linked with a move for the flying winger since the takeover went through in October.
He was supposedly open to joining the club, and he has remained linked with a move to the world’s richest club.
Following Xavi’s latest comments, it looks like Barcelona haven’t given up hope on Dembele putting pen-to-paper on a new contract.
Dembele won’t be available for Barcelona’s trip to Mallorca today, as he he has tested positive for Covid-19.
It seems there are going to be a lot more twists and turns surrounding the future of Barcelona’s number seven and it seems that PIF are willing to go toe-to-toe with some of Europe’s biggest sides, in order to bring Dembele to Tyneside in the summer.
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