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Barcelona will enter talks to try and tie Arsenal transfer target Ousmane Dembélé down to a new deal at the club.
The French international’s current contract is set to end in June, and he stands the prospect then of becoming a free agent. He had previously been linked with a move to the Emirates, with suggestions that he was being lined-up as a replacement for Nicolas Pépé, who has failed to make a significant impression since his record breaking move from Lille.
As recently as January, Dembélé’s agent was told that he was surplus to requirements in Catalonia, , but there has since been a change of heart, although any revised terms offered to the player must stay within their sustainable salary limit.
The arrival of Xavi as manager has transformed a player who seemed destined to leave Barcelona at the end of the last transfer window, but who has since notched up 10 assists in 13 league games.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.