Confirmed: Key Chelsea target becomes free agent

Dembele
Photo: Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Key Thomas Tuchel’s target Ousmane Dembele has officially become a free agent following the expiry of his contract with Barcelona.

The star winger was signed from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £135.5m in 2017.

The 25-year-old had struggled all through his time with Barcelona, but his career got revived under Xavi Hernandez.

Dembele is yet to decide on his next club, and has so far rejected all of Barca’s contract proposals.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is thought to have made the winger a key target, having coached him at Dortmund.

Dembele, on his part, is well aware of the interest from Chelsea and PSG.

Barca have made it clear that they would like to keep the winger at Camp Nou, but he had been disappointed with the offer from Barcelona all the while, which is why he hasn’t extended his contract with the Spanish side.

Mundo Deportivo report that although Dembele has not yet responded to the Catalan club’s latest contract offer, he could still yet extend his stay at Camp Nou.

In a recent meeting, Xavi told the star winger that the club would not be upping its offer.

Barcelona’s salary proposal is less than what he currently earns – and the player’s representatives believe they can get a better deal elsewhere.

Reports also claim that Dembele has been left disappointed by Chelsea’s contract proposal.

It’s up to Dembele to decide where he’d play next, and Chelsea are patiently waiting for his final decision.