Dembele is out of contract at the end of this season
Barcelona manager Xavi was reportedly left ‘nearly speechless’ after being informed that Osumane Dembele is demanding around £700,000 a week for a new contract.
The Frenchman is thought to be demanding a ‘crazy’ salary package worth up to €80million (£66.9m), leaving Xavi without a response when he was told that Dembele is asking for around £700,000 a week, according to Florian Plettenberg.
With Barcelona not currently in a position to offer Dembele an improved contract due to their salary situation, Dembele reportedly has just 48 hours to decide his future as the Catalan giants are considering selling the winger rather than risk losing him for free at the end of the season, according to Mundo Deportivo.
It is thought that the 24-year-old – who has been in talks over a new deal for weeks – is keen on remaining at the Nou Camp, but is yet to accept the contract offer that is currently on the table.
📰[MD] | The possibility of staying in the stands for half a year doesn't scare Dembele. Xavi doesn't prefer to leave Dembele in the stands because it would create a problem in the dressing room and the coach will lose the Frenchman's talent on the pitch. #fcblive pic.twitter.com/WOHP7RVhwY
— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) January 17, 2022
Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko recently claimed that the breakdown in talks was not down to financial disagreements, but instead as a result of Barcelona manager Xavi’s poor management style.
Should the winger opt to reject Barcelona’s contract offer, he is likely to have plenty of option when it comes to choosing his next club.
Reports have suggested that a return to Germany is a possibility for the French star, whilst English sides Chelsea and Tottenham are also thought to be monitoring his situation.
Dembele joined Barcelona in 2017 from German side Borussia Dortmund for £96million, where he has made just 87 La Liga appearances after struggling with fitness and injury issues.
The former Dortmund man is out of contract at the end of this season and is already able to agree a pre-contract agreement with any club outside of Spain.
