Barcelona considering selling in-form winger in January for a ‘high price’ – report

After signing for Barcelona in 2017 as Neymar’s replacement, Ousmane Dembele has only managed to justify his €130 million price tag in 2022, under the management of Xavi.

Prior to that, he was hit with multiple injuries, inconsistent management, and his own indiscipline.

All that is behind him, though. Last season, Dembele played 21 games in the league, but managed to give 13 assists. His form in the second half of the season pretty much boosted his argument for a renewal single-handedly.

However, it seems he might not be in Barcelona’s plans for the future. A report from ARA says that the club are considering selling him this January for a ‘high price’.

The Frenchman signed a two-year contract extension with Barça in the summer, and has a mere €100 million release clause. Reports have stated that should a club trigger that, and Dembele push to move, he would pocket €50 million of the total payment as part of a clause in his contract.

Dembele’s agent, too, believes that he should leave the club, and did his best to stop him from re-signing for Barcelona.

The Catalans believe that selling the 25-year-old would fetch them a huge amount of transfer fee. This also works in tandem with them looking to sign Marcos Asensio from Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Dembele, should he continue to avoid injuries as he has this year, will have a bunch of suitors across the continent. Clubs would be willing to meet and even top his release clause to sign him.

The report seems extremely farfetched, especially considering Dembele’s form and importance to Xavi’s project. If there is any truth to it, however, Barcelona should probably reconsider this approach.