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Barcelona president Joan Laporta provides update on Ousmane Dembele future

Barcelona president Laporta provides update on Dembele future
© Reuters
Barcelona president Joan Laporta says that the club made a fresh contract offer to Ousmane Dembele "a long time ago".

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that the club made a fresh contract offer to Ousmane Dembele "a long time ago", but the attacker is yet to make a decision on his future.

Dembele's existing deal at Camp Nou is due to expire at the end of June, and there remains a host of speculation surrounding his future with the Catalan giants.

Barcelona told the France international to leave the club in January after he refused to sign a new deal, but the World Cup winner ultimately remained with the La Liga outfit, and he has worked his way back into the side in the second half of the campaign.

The 25-year-old has represented Xavi's side on 31 occasions this season, scoring twice and providing 13 assists, including one goal and 13 assists in 20 La Liga outings.

Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs to be credited with an interest in the attacker amid the speculation surrounding his future.

Ousmane Dembele in action for Barcelona in November 2021© Reuters

Laporta has said that a new proposal was submitted to Dembele "a long time ago", and the Barcelona president 'believes' that the forward will ultimately stay.

However, he has conceded that the former Borussia Dortmund attacker "is tempted by other options", with PSG in particular thought to be prepared to place a substantial contract on the table.

"The offer was presented a long time ago and they have taken time to answer us," Laporta told Catalunya Radio. "We cannot force anything because this depends on two parties.

"I believe that he will stay, but he is tempted by other options that he could believe are superior."

According to Sport, Barcelona are becoming increasingly concerned by the situation and have set up a meeting with Dembele and his representatives for after Sunday's La Liga clash with Villarreal.

arcelona's Frenkie de Jong celebrates scoring their second goal with Ousmane Dembele, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and teammates on February 20, 2022© Reuters

Since arriving at Camp Nou from Borussia Dortmund in August 2017, the attacker has made 149 appearances for the Catalan club, contributing 32 goals and 34 assists in the process.

Dembele has struggled with a number of injury problems over the last five years, though, missing the opening months of this season due to a knee injury before suffering a hamstring issue upon his return to the side.

Barcelona boss Xavi recently said that it would ultimately be up to the player to decide whether he wants to continue his career at the club or move elsewhere.

"I haven't had a single complaint about Dembele at a professional level since I arrived. He's a footballer of many levels, well worked, I still think he can be the best in his position. It's up to him, the renewal depends on him," Xavi told reporters in early April.

Dembele, who played for Rennes before arriving at Dortmund in 2016, provided two assists in Barcelona's 3-1 win over Celta Vigo in La Liga on May 10, but he was an unused substitute for their goalless draw with Getafe last time out.

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