BARCELONA
Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé in talks with Newcastle United
The 24-year-old's contract at Camp Nou expires in June 2022 and no agreement has been found between the player and Barça.
Newcastle United have entered talks with Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé, according to Foot Mercato. The France international's contract at the Catalan club expires in June 2022 and no agreement has been found between the player and Barça.
Newcastle and Man City interested in Dembélé
Dembélé, who has also attracted interest from Manchester City, has held talks with Newcastle over a possible five-year deal with an annual salary of €15 million. According to Foot Mercato, the Frenchman has requested a signing-on fee of €15 million. The 24-year-old has turned down a contract extension offer that Barça had proposed until 2025 albeit with a decreased salary.
Bruce sacked
Steve Bruce was sacked by Newcastle on Wednesday and the Magpies are looking for a new head coach, but it remains to be seen which player they will break the bank for first. Goal report that Dembélé has a renewal offer from Barça on the table, but, knowing that from January he will be free to negotiate with other clubs, his agent is delaying the response.
Dembélé on his way back from long layoff
Barça signed Dembélé for €105 million, however the move has not quite worked out. A long-term injury means that has not yet made an appearance this season. He could, however, be in Ronald Koeman's matchday squad for this weekend's El Clásico with Real Madrid.
A deal will be much more difficult to complete come January. Other clubs will be able, legally, to open talks with the attacker and Newcastle would enter those discussions with deep pockets, due to their new Saudi owners. Barcelona have been linked with a move for Raheem Sterling in January, but it all depends on Manchester City's demands.