There is growing optimism in France tonight that PSG is about to land their big fish in Ousmane Dembele. Two different reporters who are generally very reliable for transfer information around the Ligue 1 champions are both indicating that Dembele is close to securing a move to Paris, leaving Barcelona in the rearview mirror.
🚨⏳️👀🔴🔵 #Ligue1 | pic.twitter.com/mkmpihjwfA
— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) July 30, 2023
Fabrice Hawkins also relayed information on the potential deal in an article which stated:
"The teams in Paris are on deck. The trend is clear: unless there is a last-minute change, Ousmane Dembélé will be Parisian."
I have very mixed feelings about this move. On one hand, I’d hate to lose Dembele and the talent he possesses just weeks away from the start of the new La Liga season. He showed his cutting edge against Real Madrid last night in El Clasico Americano, scoring the first goal in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over their rivals in Dallas.
On the other hand, in a squad as close as Barca, if a player wants to leave then you shouldn’t need to beg him to stay. If his heart is in Paris, then letting him go makes sense for everyone involved.
It secures a financial influx that is desperately needed and will allow Barca to sign someone like Ivan Fresneda or maybe even Bernardo Silva. Players who want to represent the La Liga champions.
I’m always one who says it’s never done until it’s done, and a lot of good reports have got a lot wrong over the years. But the harsh reality of the situation is that if Dembele wants to go, there’s nothing Xavi, Laporta or anyone else can do about it.
As Xavi said after the game last night, the decision is really the players and the player alone.
Release clause clarification
If PSG are to sign Dembele, they’ll need to act quickly. At least if they want to sign him for €50 million euros.
His release clause doubles on the first of August and while Barca would still be willing to negotiate with PSG, they certainly wouldn’t sell Dembele at the same price.
If Dembele has made the decision to leave Barcelona, then you work as hard as you can to get as much as you can. If they can’t get everything together in just over 24 hours, they’ll need to negotiate a fee between €50 million and €100 million, which is what his new release clause will be.
Xavi did state that Dembele was happy in Catalonia, so we’ll see if the confidence terminating from Paris is well founded or not.
Can Fermín López break through for Barça?
Fermín López impressed mightily in Barcelona's preseason Clásico. But can he stick around with the first team and play real minutes this season?