Chelsea are the favourites to sign Ousmane Dembele as a free agent this summer, according to talkSPORT.
The 25-year-old’s contract with Barcelona expires at the end of this month and the Blues are reportedly closing in on a deal to make the France international the first signing of the Todd Boehly era.
Dembele moved to the Nou Camp from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for a staggering £135.5m. The 2018 World Cup winner got his big-money move to La Liga after shining in Germany under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel.
It seems that the German is keen to reunite with the talented Dembele this summer and signing Barcelona’s electric forward will certainly bolster Tuchel’s attacking options at Stamford Bridge.
Although Dembele has suffered an injury-plagued five years in Spain, the two-footed speedster has shown this season that when he is fit and firing, he remains one of the best talents across Europe.
From 21 La Liga appearances this season, Dembele finished the campaign top of the Spanish top-flight’s assist charts with 13.
Not only could Dembele become the latest French player to play for Chelsea, but he could join a 13-man list of players who have played for Chelsea and Barcelona.
Players who have played for Chelsea and Barcelona
Mark Hughes
The Welshman spent a season at the Nou Camp after moving from Manchester United before spending a season on loan at Bayern Munich.
Hughes scored five goals during his time in Spain before making the move back to the Red Devils. Hughes’ second spell at Old Trafford lasted seven years before he signed for Chelsea in 1995.
Hughes, who is currently the manager of Bradford City, spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge, winning the FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. He finished his Chelsea career with 39 goals from 123 matches.
Albert Ferrer
After coming through the academy ranks at Barcelona, the right-back, who was born and bred in Catalonia, won five leagues, a European Cup, a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, two domestic cups, four Supercups and two UEFA Super Cups, during his time at the Nou Camp.
Ferrer made over 300 appearances for Blaugrana before making the switch to west London in 1998.
Ferrer spent five years at Stamford Bridge and the 36-time Spain international played 113 times for the Londoners before retiring at the age of 33.
Winston Bogarde
The former Netherlands international spent three years at the Nou Camp after being signed by his compatriot Louis van Gaal from AC Milan.
Bogarde won four trophies with Barca before being signed by Chelsea in the summer of 2001.
The versatile defender played just 12 times for Chelsea, but Bogarde wasn’t willing to leave the club and part ways with his lucrative contract to pursue first team football elsewhere.
Emmanuel Petit
After three years at Arsenal, the World Cup and European Championship winner moved to Barcelona where Petit spent a solitary season.
The Frenchman returned to England with a move to Stamford Bridge and the all-action midfielder played 76 times for Chelsea across three seasons.
Boudewijn Zenden
After impressing for Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona snapped up the flying winger where he played under Van Gaal.
Zenden was part of Barcelona’s 1998-99 La Liga winning side, but when Van Gaal resigned – the left footer found appearances harder to come by.
Zenden moved to Chelsea in the summer of 2001 and made 59 appearances across two seasons before joining Middlesbrough on loan who he later joined on a free transfer, following the expiry of his Blues contract.
In November 2012, Zenden replaced Eddie Newton as Chelsea’s new assistant manager when Rafael Benítez took over as manager.
Juliano Belletti
In his three years at Barcelona, the Brazilian’s only goal for Blaugrana was the winner against Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final.
Belletti moved to Chelsea in August 2007 and he made a total of 94 appearances for the Blues, scoring five goals. The versatile right-back won the Premier League, two FA Cups and the Community Shield during his time in the capital.
Eidur Gudjohnsen
The Icelandic legend spent six years at Stamford Bridge following his arrival from Bolton Wanderers and he scored 78 goals from 263 games.
Gudjohnsen won back-to-back Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho before heading for Barcelona.
The intelligent forward was part of the Barcelona side that won the Treble under Pep Guardiola during the 2008-09 season.
Gudjohnsen scored 19 goals from 114 games for Barcelona.
Deco
After being at the heart of Porto’s 2004 Champions League success under Mourinho, Deco joined Barcelona in the same summer Mourinho was appointed as Chelsea’s new manager.
The attacking midfielder was a regular at Barca for four seasons and he won the Champions League, two league titles and three Spanish Super Cups during his time at the Nou Camp.
Deco stayed at Chelsea for two seasons after arriving in June 2008 and he won the Premier League and back-to-back FA Cups.
Ricardo Quaresma
The Portuguese showman only spent one season at the Nou Camp before being included in the deal which saw Deco arrive from Porto.
Quaresma made five appearances for Chelsea during the 2008-09 campaing following a loan move from Inter Milan, who were managed at the time by Mourinho.
Oriol Romeu
After coming through the famous La Masia academy, Romeu made two first team appearances for Barcelona before moving to Chelsea in August 2011.
Following 33 appearances for the Blues and loan spells with Valencia and Stuttgart, the defensive midfielder signed for Southampton on a permanent deal in August 2015.
Pedro
The Spanish forward came through the Barcelona youth ranks and was a key part of both Guardiola and Luis Enrique’s Nou Camp teams that dominated European football.
Pedro won 21 trophies during his time in Catalonia which included three Champions Leagues and five league titles. From 321 games for Barcelona, the World Cup and European Championship winner scored 99 goals and provided 62 assists.
Pedro joined Chelsea in August 2015 and spent five seasons with the Blues where he won the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.
The 33-year-old, who has one of the most decorated CVs in football, scored 43 goals and provided 28 assists from 206 matches for Chelsea.
Samuel Eto’o
The Cameroon legend won two Champions Leagues and three league titles with Barcelona before the striker moved to Inter Milan as part of the deal which saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic move to the Nou Camp.
Eto’o scored 130 goals from 1999 games for Barca before winning the Champions League in his first season with the Nerazzurri under Mourinho.
After a spell with mega-rich Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, Eto’o spent the 2013-14 season at Stamford Bridge where he scored 12 goals from 35 matches.
Cesc Fabregas
The world-class midfield technician moved back to Barcelona after spending seven years at Arsenal and Fabregas won six trophies during his time back in Catalonia.
He never got his hands on the Champions League trophy but after returning to the Premier League with Chelsea, Fabregas won the league title twice at Stamford Bridge, as well as the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League.
The now 35-year-old played 198 times for the Blues, scoring 22 times and laying on 57 assists.