FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has issued a transfer message to reported Liverpool target Ousmane Dembele, with the La Liga official eager for the winger to stay.
Speaking to RAC1 via Fabrizio Romano, Laporta revealed that he wants the France international to stay with the Catalan side after an incredible turnaround in form in recent weeks for Dembele, with the winger arguably one of Barcelona’s best players in 2022.
- READ MORE: Fulham’s XI if they kept their top stars
Since the turn of the year, the former Borussia Dortmund star has bagged one goal and six assists in six La Liga games, two of which came in El Clasico in a historic 4-0 win for Xavi Hernandez’s side.
Indeed, despite intense rumours over January that Dembele was set to leave Barcelona, with Liverpool just one side interested in the winger, the club president now sounds eager for the attacker to sign a new contract.
Dembele’s current deal expires this summer, and when asked about the Barcelona star, Laporta sounded keen for the forward to pen a new contract before the end of the current season.
Laporta said: “I really like Dembele, he’s amazing, we made him a proposal that expired on December 20. If he wants to stay, he has to accept our salary limits. We never know what goes on with Dembele and his agent.”
New Barcelona contract seems likely for Liverpool target Dembele
With a reported wage of £287,000k-a-week, offloading Dembele, despite his insane form, might not be the worst idea for Barcelona given their summer plans and their ongoing financial crisis. Yet a new contract now feels likely for the Liverpool target.
After all, Xavi has got the best out of Dembele for the first time in a Barcelona shirt in years, and despite interest from the likes of Liverpool, the Catalan side could be tempted to take another risk on the French international if he continues to perform as well as he has this year.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
