Barca on brink of landing Dembele
MADRID — Ousmane Dembele could soon become the second most expensive soccer player in history as reports claim Barcelona has finally agreed a deal that could rise to $177 million for the mercurial 20-year-old.
According to media outlets in Spain, France and Germany, Barca is prepared to break its own transfer record with an initial offer of $142 million million, supplemented by $35 million in add-ons.
“We’re getting nearer to a decision, but one hasn’t been reached yet,” Dortmund’s managing director HansJoachim Watzke told Sky, denying claims a deal had been finalized between the clubs’ directors at Thursday’s Champions League draw in Monaco.
“We are not the sort of club that does our business in public. We can only say that there is no fixed agreement yet.”
Dembele, who cost Dortmund just $17 million from Rennes last year, has been suspended by Dortmund since he boycotted training on Aug 10 in protest after the German club rejected Barca’s first bid.
“The club is working on the incorporation of players and when there is a definitive decision we will make an official announcement that explains the situation,” Barca general manager Pep Segura told BeIN Sports Spain.
Barcelona-based sports daily Mundo Deportivo claimed Barca is hopeful of presenting Dembele Monday.
The saga also cost Dembele his place in the France lineup for upcoming World Cup qual- at Camp Nou on ifiers against the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
“Ousmane hasn’t trained for two weeks and he’s waiting to see if the transfer will go ahead or won’t go ahead,” said France coach Didier Deschamps.
Barca is in desperate need for reinforcements since being caught cold by Neymar’s decision to join Paris Saint-Germain for a record $264 million earlier this month.
With just a week to go before the transfer window closes, the Catalan giant has had several attempts to land Dembele and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho rebuffed, piling pressure onto already beleaguered president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Following Barca’s 5-1 aggregate thrashing by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, the hashtag “bartomeudimiteya” (Bartomeu resign now) was a trending topic worldwide on Twitter.
A growing split between Barca’s top players and board was also evidenced this week as the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez posted photos on social media of them partying with Neymar just hours after the club announced it is suing the Brazilian for breach of contract.
Barcelona was powerless to stop Neymar’s move to PSG earlier this month as the French side met the buyout clause in his contract.