MANCHESTER UNITED can sign Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele for as little as £44million, according to reports.
It is believed talks between the 23-year-old’s representatives and the Spanish club have stalled in recent weeks.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Dembele is yet to respond to a contract extension offer Barcelona made two weeks ago.
The French World Cup winner’s current deal runs out at the end of next season and, at that point, he will become a free agent.
As such Barcelona may look to sell Dembele this summer if he doesn’t agree to a new contract before.
It is believed they will want between £44m and £53m for the player – around half of what they paid for him when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund three years ago.
The Catalan giants are said to be desperate to keep Dembele after his return to form and fitness this season, scoring 10 goals in all competitions.
Should he decide to leave Spain, United are the favourites for his signature and have reportedly been in contact with his representatives.
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There is a good chance Dembele will stay at Barcelona, recently telling the press: “I still have a year of contract left. There hasn’t been a discussion with the club yet, I’m happy, and I feel good.
“Then there is the new president who has arrived and whom I do not know too well, but he is very close to the players. We’ll see how it goes.”
Barcelona’s chances of retaining the player, though, are fading with each passing day.
And they are also still to agree on a new deal with Argentine star Lionel Messi, who is out of contract in the summer.
United are not the only club rumoured to be in for Dembele as Liverpool and Juventus have also been linked with him.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
