Barcelona’s new optimism that Dembélé will renew
Without offers, the winger could accept the 40% wage cut which the club has proposed to put him in the same bracket at Ansu Fati, and agree to renew with Barcelona.
Ousmane Dembélé could renew with Barça imminently. The French winger could accept the reduction in wages which was included in the club’s most recent offer and bring to an end a saga which has dragged on for over a year. To Xavi’s delight, Dembélé would continue at Camp Nou and completely turn around a situation which seemed impossible back in January when the club sidelined him for a couple of games. On Friday, Joan Laporta told the media off the record that if Dembélé continues, it would be with a 40% reduction in his wages which would put him in line with Ansu Fati. It might have seemed like just another episode in the war of propaganda which both sides have been waging in recent months but this time, Dembélé may well bury the hatchet and commit to a new contract.
Barça had originally suspected that Dembélé had a deal in place with PSG a few months ago, but with Kylian Mbappé changing his mind and deciding to stay, those plans were scuppered as now there would be no room for him in Paris. With no other offers, he could well decide to stay where he is and renew with Barça.