Tottenham Hotspur have in recent hours returned to Barcelona for fresh negotiations over a last-ditch transfer for Chelsea target Ousmane Dembele, according to TuttoMercatoWEB.
Spurs strived to follow their deadline day deals for Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski with the 2018 World Cup winner. But Managing Director Fabio Paratici has failed to present a suitable offer for Dembele to also arrive in north London.
Paratici hoped to seal Dembele’s immediate transfer to Tottenham as the Barcelona winger is out of contract this summer. He has additionally been subject to interest this month from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, plus Paris Saint-Germain.
Tottenham failed to reach an agreement with Barcelona for Dembele’s transfer as they did not agree on the 24-year-old’s value. Paratici also disagreed with the Camp Nou hierarchy on the structure of payments Spurs would make in any deal.
Paratici has been driving Tottenham’s interest in Dembele for months whilst he discussed a new contract with Barcelona. TuttoMercatoWEB reported in December that he viewed the Frenchman as a ‘dream’ target, and that Antonio Conte supported a deal.
Spurs also maintained regular contact with his agent, Moussa Sissoko, to stay on top of all developments. But they now risk seeing Dembele move to London, but with rivals Chelsea.
Chelsea near transfer for Tottenham target Dembele of Barcelona
Spanish publication ABC report Chelsea are on the verge of a transfer for Tottenham target and Barcelona winger Dembele. He will sign a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Stamford Bridge natives, with negotiations 99 per cent complete.
Dembele was to undergo a medical with the Blues on Monday afternoon after accepting his time in Catalunya is over. The Blaugrana refused his demands of a €30m-a-year gross wage (£482k-a/w), a €30m (£25m) signing bonus and a €15m (£12.5) agent fee for a new deal.
He will mark a costly signing Lionel Messi hailed for his ‘frightening’ speed now hurried out the door in the final hours of the market to avoid leaving for free in June. ABC add Dembele has triggered €30m (£25m) of the add-ons agreed in his €105m (£87m) arrival in 2017.
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