Arsenal are reportedly strongly considering a move for resurging Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele and could be in a battle for his signature with Manchester United.
It comes after Nicholas Pepe’s future has become highly uncertain at the club with the Evening Standard reporting Arsenal will sit down with the winger and his agent at the end of the season to discuss his future. The winger has two years left on his deal and is expected to leave in the summer.
Arsenal could find a ready-made replacement for Pepe in Dembele but would likely to have to pay a handsome wage to land him. Spanish outlet El Chringuito has also reported that Manchester United have offered Dembele a net salary of around £12m-a-year to head to Old Trafford.
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The Frenchman’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and it is a deal Arsenal can explore after previously showing interest in the player. The Spanish report also claims Dembele’s agent has had a meeting with Arsenal. Dembele's contract expiring at the end of the campaign could be blessing for Edu as it allows him to save finances to strengthen in other areas of the squad.
With that in mind, football.london takes a look at all the latest on the transfer saga including Dembele.
Dembele latest
Dembele is being heavily linked with Arsenal with his contract set to expire at Barcelona.
Dembele had been constantly criticised in the past for his injury issues since joining Barcelona in 2018. But since the closure of the January transfer window, he has shown the form that is reminiscent of his time at Borussia Dortmund which persuaded the Catalan side to pay £100m for his services.
Dembele provides lightning pace down either flank and at just 24 years old, has much room to improve. Barca are reported to have re-opened contract talks but his future at the club remains uncertain.
Aubameyang's advice and wage demands
It has been reported by Spanish outlet Sport that Dembele is willing to take a wage cut in order to remain at the Catalan giants. His current €250,000 per week wages would have to be slashed in order to stay but Barca front man Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has insisted that Dembele should stay.
Dembele assisted Aubameyang for a goal in the 3-2 win over Levante in April and when speaking after the game, he made his feelings clear as to what he thought the former Borussia Dortmund star should do next. After the game the former Arsenal forward said: “He [Dembele] has to stay.”
Chelsea interest
Chelsea were linked with the 24-year-old in January and targeted a deadline day move but that may have to wait due to the winger's revitalised form.
The right-sided forward became the second most expensive player in history in 2017 with a 105 million plus a reported €40 million add-ons but struggled to impose himself at the Nou Camp and his transfer was subject to scrutiny when the club's financial problems emerged.
Despite reports of a move for Dembele, Thomas Tuchel insisted there was no approach and they had a “calm” January transfer window. “I did not have contact with Ousmane. There was no contact in winter," he said. “I'm very satisfied because it was a calm window, and to be calm is always the best thing.”
