Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that Ousmane Dembele could be 'tempted' by a summer transfer switch to Chelsea or another club in Europe, despite claiming that they have offered him a new and improved deal.
Dembele, 25, was the main topic of conversation during the January transfer window as Thomas Tuchel's side were heavily interested in paying a reduced fee to end his Barca nightmare. Injuries coupled with contract disagreements and a tense relationship between club and agent meant that all signs pointed towards the Frenchman seeking an imminent exit from Spain and La Liga.
However, his adamancy to want to stay put against Xavi's will at the time has looked like a smart decision with Dembele himself shining in helping provide assists for the likes of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and the other forwards that have gone up to the next level under the former midfielder's guidance.
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Now, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea lurking ahead of the summer transfer window, Barca president Joan Laporta has issued a statement that has given off 'mixed' signals.
As per Fabrizio Romano, his tweet read: "Barça president Joan Laporta tells Tot costa: 'Ousmane Dembélé? We made our new deal proposal and we’re waiting for his answer, next week.
“He wanted to stay here at Barça but he’s now tempted by other options he considers better.'"
A statement which leaves the 25-year-old in a precarious situation. Does he want to try and continue to prove and validate his £120million price tag that has never fully been justified as of yet? Or does he reunite with a manager who was the one to get the best out of him during their Dortmund days and continues to monitor his progress from afar?
If the second of the options were to come to fruition, then one of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi or most likely Timo Werner would have to depart in order for squad space to become available in the Chelsea frontline, football.london understands.
