Ousmane Dembele may have already played his last Barcelona game, as Xavi Hernandez has removed the reported Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur transfer target from his squad.
That’s according to Esport3, who claim the Blaugrana boss is furious with Dembele after he rejected a new contract. Xavi had publicly and privately given the forward confidence since replacing Ronald Koeman as manager. But he remains unwilling to accept the club’s offer.
Dembele has shown no sign of accepting Barcelona’s request for a reasonable salary in a new deal. His current €10m-a-year (£160k-a/w) terms expire at the end of the season. He penned the deal in 2017 upon joining from Borussia Dortmund for £97m rising to £135.5m.
Xavi now feels enough is enough and agrees with Barcelona’s strategy of leaving Dembele out of the squad. So, he has removed the forward from his team to face Athletic Bilbao in the Cope del Rey. The Blaugrana travel to the San Mames in the last 16 on Thursday night.
It is now likely complicated that Dembele ever plays for the Camp Nou natives again, unless he lessens his demands. Foot Mercato have reported the 24-year-old requested a €40m-a-year (£640-a/w) gross salary, along with a €40m (£33m) bonus to renew.
Instead, Barcelona now intend to sell the 2018 World Cup winner during the January sales to avoid his free exit. And Sport note he is free to seal a winter switch for €20m (£16.5m).
Xavi offers Arsenal and Tottenham transfer boost for Barcelona’s Dembele
Xavi acting and removing Dembele from the Barcelona side to face Athletic may also boost Arsenal and Tottenham’s transfer hopes. But his agent, Moussa Sissoko, has told RMC Sport that the Blaugrana’s threats will not force the forward to short-change his valuation.
Nonetheless, Mikel Arteta rates Dembele very highly and Arsenal have spoken with Sissoko over leaving Barcelona, per the Transfer Window Podcast. Tottenham, likewise, have discussed a January transfer from Barcelona with Dembele’s agent, per TuttoMercatoWEB.
Dembele is Spurs Managing Director Fabio Paratici’s ‘dream’ target to strengthen Antonio Conte’s squad. The Tottenham boss is also open to the forward’s arrival in north London.
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