Barcelona consider €135 million investment’s renewal ‘most urgent matter’ to settle | OneFootball

Ronald Koeman and the rumours of his sacking might be dominating the headlines now, but Barcelona have a few other pressing concerns that need to be addressed imminently.

These are with regards to the contract extensions of some first-team members like Ansu Fati, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele. While the teenage duo’s deals expire next year, they have provisions wherein Barcelona can extend them unilaterally for a couple more years, which gives them breathing space to negotiate new agreements.

The same cannot be said of Dembele. The Frenchman, who has once again been sidelined with an injury, will see his contract run out at the end of the ongoing season. And, according to SPORT, Barcelona have made his extension the ‘most urgent matter’ to settle right now.

Their stance on the matter is pretty much understandable as well. With January almost upon us, Dembele can open talks over a pre-contract agreement with clubs from abroad to secure a free transfer in the summer.

Dembele contract extension – two options being considered

Despite all his injury woes, the 24-year-old remains a potent weapon in Barcelona’s attack and the club see him as an important part of the team going forward. Especially considering how toothless the frontline has looked in the past few games.

Barcelona, for their part, are willing to hand Dembele a two-year extension on the same reduced pay terms that he had agreed with the previous president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. Alternatively, a three-year contract could also be proposed with a lesser pay cut than the current one.

Talks with the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, Moussa Sissoko, have been held, with both Joan Laporta and Mateu Alemany participating in the meeting. While there were positive vibes during the discussions, it might take a while for the negotiations to produce a fruitful outcome, the report adds.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017, in a deal that could rise up to a whopping €135million, Dembele has featured 118 times for Barcelona, to date, scoring 30 goals and setting up 21 more.

It now remains to be seen if an agreement over a new deal is reached between the two parties.