Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez remains upbeat when discussing Ousmane Dembele penning a new contract at the club and he believes the move will allow the club to make further investment this month
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Barcelona remain confident that Ousmane Dembele will sign a new contract at the club and that deal will help free up space for further January transfers.
The club’s boss Xavi Hernandez is keen for the Frenchman to extend his stay at the Camp Nou, despite fining the player for being three minutes late to a training session in November.
Barca have already completed the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City for an initial fee of £46million, with potential add-ons meaning the deal could rise to £54million.
Dembele has just five months left to run on his current deal at the Nou Camp and could leave on a free come June – while he is now free to talk to other clubs and arrange a pre-contract agreement.
Dembele’s future now remains in the balance but he appears increasingly like to leave the Catalan giants this year, either on a cut-price deal in January or as a free agent in summer.
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The 24-year-old has had an injury-hit four seasons at the Blaugrana and the club’s well-documented precarious financial situation means that they are needing to cut costs.
Barca have offered Dembele a new contract on reduced terms but the player’s representatives have not given a positive response to the proposal and his future may now lie away from the club.
However, Xavi remains optimistic that the player will agree to a new contract in Catalonia and his reduced terms will help free up wages for the club to continue to invest in January.
He has commented of the forward’s contractual situation: “I am not disappointed.
“It’s a negotiation. Sometimes advisors and agents can be difficult. But Barca’s position is clear and the process is ongoing.
“I am optimistic and I hope that Ousmane will make an effort [to renew]. He has a fantastic offer. There’s always a back and forth.”
The coach added that a new contract for Dembele would create the finances for the club to register “one or two signings” in January – having already agreed deals for Dani Alves and Torres.
The club’s deal for Dembele is somewhat convoluted, and a new contract for the player would mean that they could spread the outstanding amortisation payments on the transfer fee paid for him five years ago over the timespan of any new deal.
The funds that this move would free-up would allow Barca to add more signings in the short-term as the Catalan giants seek to strengthen their squad further in January.
Dembele has been linked with multiple clubs in the Premier League including Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle.
His future remains in the balance and he is currently free to discuss pre-contract terms with clubs outside of Spain.
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