Chelsea transfer target and Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele is reportedly 'very open' to joining Paris Saint-Germain this summer as a free agent, which could ruin Thomas Tuchel's plans depending on what happens later this week.
Once Romelu Lukaku's long-awaited return to Inter Milan is completed, a flurry of incoming activity could take place. It has already been reported that the Blues are confident in acquiring Man City winger Raheem Sterling this summer, but the business up top isn't expected to stop there. The departures of one or two of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner would open up more squad space for further reinforcements to join the City winger in being part of this revamped and refreshed Chelsea attack for 2022/23.
That's where the likes of Dembele and the ever-impressive Christopher Nkunku come into the equation. According to Sky Sports, they are also on a list of attacking targets this summer in Chelsea's £200m rebuild. There were some questions as to whether multiple wingers and forwards would be signed alongside Sterling this summer but football.london understands that the Sterling signing won't end the club's hunt for a potential opportunity to poach Barca's No.7 on a free transfer.
READ MORE: Ousmane Dembele drops Chelsea transfer bombshell with five-word message to Barcelona supporter
However, the lack of movement on this deal in particular has allowed Barca and in particular Xavi some more thinking time over what they want to do with the Frenchmen. According to The Daily Mail, Xavi wants club president Joan Laporta to reconsider his stance and potentially offer the 25-year-old an extension.
But this doesn't seem forthcoming, and despite Chelsea's lack of movement in progressing this deal, they still seem the overwhelming favourites to snap up Dembele as a free agent. However, the latest rumours suggest that if the player had his way, he could snub a potential Tuchel reunion in favour of a move elsewhere.
This is what CBS's Ben Jacobs has reported with his chain of tweets reading: "PSG have not advanced their interest in Ousmane Dembele. Although he's very open to a move to the Parc de Princes it's not currently an option. Also told Barcelona remain unlikely, despite Xavi's reported 'request', to improve their extension offer.
"Thomas Tuchel is keen on a Dembele reunion at Chelsea (he's made that clear to the club) but no terms have been agreed yet. Dembele did tell a fan (at a set of traffic lights!) he's staying at Barca, but you'd expect that since he has no other formal offers at this point. Told the situation will become clearer later this week. Barca are pretty frustrated Dembele hasn't committed or at least communicated his plans."
The Parisians themselves have undergone some major changes in recent times with both Christopher Galtier and Luis Campos replacing Mauricio Pochettino and Leonardo as the PSG board believed it was a radical time for a change after a review. Perhaps, once things are settled, they can re-enter the Dembele race.
