Ousmane Dembele has pulled a U-turn in the final stages of the January transfer window with the reported Tottenham Hotspur target now open to leaving Barcelona this month.
That’s according to Cadena Ser, who report the Frenchman’s representatives accept it is a ‘real possibility’ he moves club before Monday’s deadline. The sudden change comes after Dembele’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, met the Blaugrana hierarchy for crunch talks this week.
Barcelona CEO Ferran Reverter and Vice-President Rafa Yuste again informed Sissoko that Dembele should look for a late transfer. The winger was still hopeful of agreeing to a new contract with his current deal expiring in June. But the La Liga giants feel it is time to part.
The Camp Nou hierarchy want to sell Dembele now to get the best possible price and avoid his free exit. Barcelona are pushing to seal a last-ditch deal to clear space in their wage bill. And the player’s camp also admit a move away from Catalunya is possible for the first time.
Dembele also met Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez to discuss his situation on Tuesday, per Sport. The pair spoke for two-hours whilst Sissoko and fellow agent Marco Lichtsteiner met Reverter and Yuste. It was after those meetings that Dembele finally agreed to a transfer.
Paratici can land ‘dream’ Tottenham target as Dembele accepts Barcelona exit
Dembele finally admits his future is not with Barcelona, amid Tottenham eying a transfer, as Xavi will not yield on the Blaugrana’s refusal to play their £97m signing any longer.
So, Spurs Managing Director Fabio Paratici now has a chance to land his ‘dream’ target. TuttoMercatoWEB reported in December that the Tottenham chief views Barcelona winger Dembele as his ultimate January transfer goal. Antonio Conte is also open to his arrival.
But Dembele’s desires to sign a new contract at Barcelona put what seemed an unbeatable hurdle in Tottenham’s transfer path. Yet the Frenchman also cost himself a new deal. Foot Mercato note he demanded €40m-a-year (£640-a/w) plus a €40m (£33.5m) signing bonus.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
