Barcelona At Crossroads With Dembele Over Contract Renewal Talks (1 Viewer)

[Wonderboy]

Reports suggest that Barcelona's negotiations with Ousmane Dembele regarding a new contract have hit a roadblock. The French forward, who has contributed eight goals and seven assists in 28 appearances this season, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since January. He is expected to return to action before the end of the month but doubts persist over his long-term future at Camp Nou, as his current contract runs out in 2024.

Last summer, Dembele briefly left Barcelona after failing to agree on a new contract, but he eventually signed an 18-month deal with the club in July. However, rumors persist that Premier League clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea are monitoring his situation closely.

According to SPORT, the talks between Dembele and Barcelona have stalled, as the club is reportedly unable to offer him a higher salary at this point in time. The report suggests that discussions are likely to resume once the club's financial situation for the 2023-24 season becomes clearer.

Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in August 2017 and has since scored 40 goals and provided 41 assists in 178 appearances for the club. Xavi, the Barcelona boss, has expressed his desire for Dembele to stay at the club "for many years."

"For me he is important, he is different and fundamental. It's hard to find such decisive players in one-on-one situations. The club know that. Since we've been here he's been at an extraordinary level. I hope he stays here for many years," he told reporters at the time.

In addition to Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen, Barcelona will also be without Ousmane Dembele for their upcoming match against Girona due to injuries.

Real Madrid's loss to Villarreal on Saturday has opened up an opportunity for Xavi's team to move 14 points clear at the top of the La Liga table with a win on Monday.