Barcelona’s pursuit of Leeds United star Raphinha has taken another twist with Ousmane Dembele finally agreeing a new contract at the club. Dembele is currently a free agent after his deal at the Camp Nou expired on June 30 and has been at the centre of a contract dispute with the club for several months.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Dembele and Barcelona have reached an agreement on a new two-year deal, but the Frenchman must now wait for the Spanish side to give the green light to sign it off. Barca have been chasing Leeds winger Raphinha throughout the summer and are now thought to be as close as ever to agreeing a fee with the Whites.
The two players are now waiting for Barca as they decide whether it would be financially viable to sign both given the problems they have faced in the last 12 months. Given that Barca have continued to persist with talks over both players, that would indicate a desire to ensure both are at the Camp Nou next season.
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Indeed, reports from Spain are also supporting that theory, with Barcelona reporters Gerard Romero and Ferran Correas claiming Dembele’s renewal will not impact their pursuit of Raphinha. The key to getting the Raphinha deal over the line is said to be the activation of the second lever, which could be done next week.
Meanwhile, Chelsea continue to lurk in the background of the situation, with Thomas Tuchel’s side keen on both Dembele and Raphinha. The Blues will make their move on Dembele if the current agreement is not signed, while they have also agreed a fee with Leeds for Raphinha.
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