OUSMANE DEMBELE has NOT reopened contract negotiations with Barcelona, according to reports.
That is despite holding a meeting with the club to try and “rebuild the relationship”.
Ousmane Dembele is out of contract at Barcelona at the end of the season Credit: Getty And that could provide a boost for Chelsea, who may look to swoop for the free agent.
Dembele, 24, signed for Barca for a whopping £97million back in 2017.
But his five-year deal expires this summer and the breakdown between the two parties mean nothing has been sorted.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Dembele’s agent sat down with Barcelona chiefs in Marrakech.
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Roman Abramovich ‘begs Rush Hour director for money’ EXCLUSIVE The reason was to try and resolve the differences and repair any damage done following a “complicated” January.
Dembele was heavily linked with a transfer exit – with plenty of Premier League clubs thought to be interested.
However, nothing materialised and he stayed at the Nou Camp – alongside pal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – to see out the remainder of his deal after initially being frozen out.
Negotiations over a contract extension and a new salary are said to be scheduled for the next few weeks.
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But the parties will need to act swiftly with the end of the season rapidly approaching.
Asked if Dembele would sign a new deal with Barcelona, club president Joan Laporta simply said: “Hopefully.”
Last month, Laporta insisted the French winger would need to lower his demands to get a contract.
Chelsea are set to be at the front of the queue to pounce and land Dembele on a free transfer should nothing get sorted.
However, Arsenal, Manchester United and PSG may also be in contention.
Dembele has scored 32 goals in 141 Barcelona appearance since that mega-money move from Borussia Dortmund.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
