The Catalans have reached a dead-end in their negotiations with the player over a new contract.
Ousmane Dembele is spending the last six months of his current contract at Barcelona. The Catalans have been negotiating with the Frenchman’s representatives for months. However, it seems they have found no way to sign a contract renewal with him.
According to AS, Barcelona issued an ultimatum to Dembele and his representatives, demanding a final answer by January 15. The club held an emergency meeting after receiving no response from the player’s agent.
The Spanish source claims Dembele has demanded a salary of €40m per year for Dembele, as well €40m more in bonuses. The club are not able to meet the 24-year-old’s wage demands as they are already dealing with financial issues.
Barca manager Xavi Hernandez has repeatedly spoken out on Dembele’s importance for his side. However, he has reportedly requested the club officials to sign the French star to avoid a free departure in the summer.
Finding suitors for Dembele could be challenging for Barcelona, especially since the interested clubs can directly negotiate with the player. The only downside to a free departure (for Dembele) is that Barcelona might decide to punish the winger by freezing him out of their squad. This might even influence the Frenchman’s chances of getting a call-up for the next year’s World Cup.
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