Barcelona is heading into a defining summer as Joan Laporta does everything possible in his power to convince Lionel Messi to stay at the club. Meanwhile, Laporta will also oversee the transfer window, aiming to bring Erling Haaland to the club. Apart from Messi, the renewals of Ousmane Dembele, Ilaix Moriba and Oscar Mingueza also remain on the to-do list.
The renewal of Dembele is complicated compared to Moriba and Mingueza. The Frenchman is extremely happy under Ronald Koeman and there is no doubt that he wants to continue with the Blaugrana. The club wants to keep him, now that he is finally showcasing to the world why exactly the club shelled out 135 million euros for him.
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The ghost of his past injuries is behind him and he looks like a man reborn with confidence on the pitch. He leads the table for carries in the penalty area (41) while also creating 3.96 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes. The 3-5-2 formation has brought out the best in Dembele, granting him the freedom upfront. His finishing still needs polishing but there is simply no match for his dribbling skills and dexterity.
Manchester United targeted him the last summer and will keep a track of his situation this summer too but Barcelona remains committed to renewing him. However, Laporta has a condition for Dembele’s renewal.
Barcelona have certain conditions for Ousmane Dembele renewal
According to French publication Le10 Sport, Barcelona will not offer a colossal rise to the current salary as the club fights the economic crisis that has curtailed several short term plans. The Catalans will not give in if the 23-year-old has astronomical salary demands.
Barca are willing to offer a long term contract to Dembele with a progressive salary i.e his paycheck will increase with each season while also lowering the release clause. If Dembele does have certain salary demands that cannot be met at the moment, the Blaugrana will be open to a one-year extension so that the danger of losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season is averted and the club can address the contract situation next year when the Catalan club will be in a better financial state.
Dembele is a key cog for Koeman and can be a world-class player for Barca if he continues his upward trajectory and he should be tied down to a new deal as soon as possible.
Will Barcelona reach an agreement with Ousmane Dembele before the end of this season?