Newcastle United could potentially miss out on the signing of Ousmane Dembele with Chelsea now leading the chase for the FC Barcelona attacker.
According to the Athletic, Thomas Tuchel’s side have expressed an interest in the France international, and a late move for the 24-year-old winger could be on the table should Chelsea feel tempted to pull the trigger on Dembele.
The La Liga attacker has been one of the most high-profile transfer sagas this January. Barcelona are desperate to sell Dembele, with the attacker earning a reported £287,000-a-week at the club.
And as claimed by 90min, Newcastle are one of the clubs interested in taking the winger off Barcelona’s payroll. However, the Toon now face competition from Chelsea, who logically have a better chance at signing Dembele.
As well as being completely safe from relegation and playing UEFA Champions League football, Tuchel is the coach who brought the best out of Dembele during their time together at Borussia Dortmund.
The attacker only spent a full season with the Bundesliga giants, yet Dembele was easily one of the most exciting players in Europe during that year, with the forward bagging ten goals and assisting an astonishing 21 in all competitions.
Newcastle should focus on other targets with Chelsea chasing Dembele
With Newcastle still in the race for Dembele, if reports are to be believed, Chelsea’s interest in the Frenchman should be enough to push Eddie Howe’s side out of the competition. And it could be for the best.
Indeed, the Toon need a new centre-back as well as a central midfielder, something that should have been wrapped up much earlier in the month. And whilst Dembele would be a great luxury player and a huge statement of intent from PIF, there’s no denying that Newcastle have to play it smart in the remaining days of the window.
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