Chelsea Unlikely To Make A Move For Barcelona Superstar: A Missed Opportunity For The Blues? | OneFootball

According to Marca, Ousmane Dembele’s future remains uncertain. The forward was expected to leave Barcelona in the summer, but his potential suitor Chelsea have backed out in the race owing to their turmoil, while Juventus have opted not to pursue the Frenchman either. It has put question marks over Dembele’s future and an extended stay at Camp Nou could be a possibility.

Ousmane Dembele’s Post-January Spell At Barcelona

Ousmane Dembele created quite a stir in January. The forward angered the Barcelona board by demanding a hefty new deal at Camp Nou, which compelled the club to sanction his exit in the winter transfer window.

However, the Frenchman opted to remain at the club in January in favour of a free transfer in the summer, further riling up the Barca fans. Xavi, though, has treated him rather well since the January debacle, choosing to use his skills to good effect rather than freezing him out of his first-team plans.

Since the end of the winter transfer window, Dembele has featured in three league matches, scoring one goal while bagging three assists. His cameo against Athletic Club was particularly impressive, and it appears very likely that the 24-year-old will play a vital role in helping Barcelona achieve their objectives come the end of the season.

Barcelona’s French forward Ousmane Dembele looks on during a training session at the Joan Gamper training ground in Sant Joan Despi near Barcelona, on January 22, 2022 on the eve of the Spanish League football match against Alaves. – Ousmane Dembele hit back at Barcelona on January 20, 2022 by saying he “won’t give in to blackmail” after the club’s director of football Mateu Alemany said the winger must leave before the end of January. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP) (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)

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A Missed Opportunity For Chelsea?

Chelsea’s decision to cede their interest in Dembele comes just a few days after Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale amid ongoing turmoil between Ukraine and Russia.

The sale could indeed cause a period of uncertainty for Chelsea, especially if sporting director Marina Granovskaia and chair Bruce Buck follow the Russian oligarch through the exit door. While Chelsea should not find it difficult to find a new buyer, the management could herald a change of policy, which could have severe implications on the club’s transfer policy in the summer.

With that in mind, investing a massive chunk of the wage budget in Ousmane Dembele is something Chelsea cannot afford at the moment. The Frenchman has endured a plethora of injury issues in the past and has not been able to prove himself in La Liga.

While a lot of players who have struggled in the Bundesliga or Laliga have found success in the Premier League, Dembele’s questionable fitness record poses doubts over his credentials. Hence, it might be a good idea to cede interest in the Barcelona attacker, especially given Chelsea’s current situation.