Barcelona have reportedly found a solution to offload Ousmane Dembele, with Chelsea emerging as his next destination.
According to Spanish news outlet ABC, Ousmane Dembele could be on the verge of a move away from Camp Nou. It is no secret that Barcelona are desperate to offload him in the final hours of the deadline day, and it appears their prayers have been answered, with Chelsea emerging as the likely suitor.
The report suggests Dembele and Chelsea are negotiating terms over a four-and-a-half-year contract. Although the deal is yet to be finalised, the player is almost destined to end up at Stamford Bridge, thus allowing Barcelona to make room for a new signing.
Barcelona have been heavily linked with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and have been negotiating a potential loan deal from Arsenal. The Emirates was thought to be a possible destination for Dembele, with Barcelona open to including him in a swap deal. However, recent reports suggest the Frenchman had no desire to join Mikel Arteta’s setup.
Dembele was reportedly keen on a move to Paris Saint-Germain. But it appears the Ligue 1 giants have pulled the plug on the move and are happy to continue with their current roster before splashing the cash in the summer.
It opened the opportunity for Chelsea to come out of nowhere and secure a deal for the former Borussia Dortmund starlet, who had worked with Thomas Tuchel in his single season in the Bundesliga. The explosive forward featured in 49 competitive matches under the German and was involved in as many as 33 goals, notably helping Dortmund secure the DFB Pokal title.
A reunion at Chelsea will be a surprise, to say the least. But it is a logical move given Tuchel’s desperation to enhance his options in the attacking department, in light of Christian Pulisic’s struggles. The American international was curiously linked with a move to Barcelona earlier this January, though a deal did not materialise.
Nevertheless, Dembele’s dynamism and flair in the final third should add a new dimension to the Chelsea frontline. It will be particularly interesting to see how he links up with Pulisic, provided they play together. The two were teammates at Dortmund, and Tuchel is hoping they can rekindle their lost flame during the second half of the campaign.
