Ousmane Dembele’s agent claims Barcelona winger’s future remains open | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko has claimed that the French winger’s future is open, with his contract at Barcelona expiring next month.

Barca have been trying to extend Dembele’s stay beyond the summer after his importance to the squad has grown over the last few months.

However, Barca’s offer appears to be insufficient as Dembele and his entourage are seeking a pay rise to pen an extension.

The Catalan club are not ready to accept Dembele’s demands due to their financial situation, meaning that an exit could be on the cards for the Frenchman.

There are reports that Sissoko had met with Paris Saint-Germain to discuss a potential transfer, with the Ligue 1 giants keeping tabs on Dembele since January and said to have a verbal agreement in place.

Now, Sissoko has hinted about Dembele’s possible exit from Camp Nou in the summer, stating that the client’s future remains open.

Sissoko said (h/t Fabrizio Romano): “Ousmane’s future remains open. We are and have always been very respectful to all clubs and this will continue to be the case while the process is ongoing”.

“When it is the right time to make a decision, Ousmane will consider the best option for his future.”

Bayern Munich and Chelsea are said to be other potential suitors for the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Xavi has frequently spoken about his desire to keep Dembele for the foreseeable future, with the Frenchman playing a key role in the Blaugrana’s resurgence in the latter half of the 2021/22 season.

During that run, the 25-year-old was arguably the best player of the Blaugrana, as he wound up the season as La Liga’s top assist provider (13).

Barca have identified Raphinha as an ideal replacement for Dembele, but their pursuit has been hit with a new problem after Leeds United sustained their place in the Premier League next season.