Fabrizio Romano has been speaking about Newcastle United transfer target Ousmane Dembele on the FIVE YouTube channel.
It’s become a very messy situation this transfer window for Dembele, with current club Barcelona claiming that he will be sold this month, only for his camp to insist that is not the case.
Romano has confirmed that the winger wishes to stay with Barcelona until the end of the season, despite approaches from the Magpies.
Will Newcastle sign Guimaraes?
Yes!
No!
Dembele’s career looked set to continue on an upwards trajectory when he went from Rennes to Barcelona via Borussia Dortmund within one year, however, since arriving at the Nou Camp, he’s been plagued by injuries that have disrupted his form and time on the pitch – though relegation-threatened Newcastle have offered him a way out in the form of a ‘verbal’ offer.
Romano’s revealed Dembele’s stance when it comes to potentially joining the Magpies.
“I still don’t see him moving in January. Barcelona want him to go in January, but people close to him tell me he doesn’t want to make his move in January. If he’s going to leave the club, it’s going to be in the summer as a free agent. In January, this is not the plan.
“So it’s true that many English clubs are approaching his agent. Newcastle made a verbal proposal, but they approached his agent and they’re pushing, but the player doesn’t want to leave Barcelona in January. He wants to make his move in the summer or maybe extend his contract with Barcelona.”
TIF Thoughts on Ousmane Dembele to Newcastle United…
Given Dembele’s poor injury record at Barcelona, it would be a huge risk for Newcastle and Eddie Howe to make, especially when they need players who will be able to drag them out of the bottom three and not just be available for a handful of games.
However, it’s not just the club’s point of view that matters, as Dembele would be taking an almighty step down when it comes to calibre and pedigree of clubs if he was to leave Barcelona for Newcastle, so with nothing seemingly advanced, this deal could be a pipe dream or simply just a way for Dembele’s agent trying to force other clubs to take an interest in his client.
In other news: ‘You’ve got to be kidding’, ‘Relegation’ – Many NUFC fans fume as Graves reveals ‘massive blow’