ARSENAL are reportedly in a transfer battle with Liverpool in the race to snare Ousmane Dembele away from Barcelona.
The 22-year-old has flattered to deceive at the Nou Camp since joining from Borussia Dortmund for a fee believed to be in the region of £130million in 2017.
Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has been linked with a summer switch to Arsenal and LiverpoolCredit: Getty – Contributor
And with the French winger currently rocked by his tenth major injury since joining the Bluagrana, the LaLiga side appear ready to cut their losses on him.
According to Spanish news outlet AS, both Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in bringing the ex-Rennes winger to the Premier League.
It has been stated that the forward has been valued at around £70m, with the player said to be willing to make the move to England.
But they state that both the Gunners and Reds are unsure about forking out that much to prise the player away from Catalonia.
The report also adds that club chiefs have been openly discussing the idea of selling Dembele, with the player a topic of jokes for Barca executives.
They even claim that an unnamed official jokingly asked a club doctor when the 2018 World Cup winner would be fit again.
And that once the doctor passed him fit to play, Dembele would instantly find himself on the transfer list.
Dembele has mustered up just 19 goals in 74 games for Barca – including one in nine matches this season before a torn hamstring cut short his campaign.
It has been suggested that Barca are already eyeing up his replacement, with Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez believed to be a key target.
And Gunners skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a £50m switch with the forward having just one year left on Arsenal contract.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
