Guillem Balague revealed that Ousmane Dembele’s representatives have repeatedly reminded him that their client’s future remains open amidst reported Chelsea interest.
Speaking on the BBC Football Daily podcast, Balague shared snippets of the conversations he’s had with those closely associated with the Barcelona forward.
What happened to Demebele on deadline day?
Dembele’s council were seemingly speaking to plenty of people during the closing stages of the January window.
They saw an opportunity to free their client from the restraints he currently finds himself under at the Camp Nou.
Aware that the 24-year-old’s contract expires in the summer, with no real indication he will renew, they got to work trying to flog him last month.
Their quest crossed the continent, particularly pint pointing the Premier League.
Chelsea had been linked pretty profusely ahead of the mad rush on deadline day.
The rumours then came in rapid succession, with Sky Sports even reporting that the Champions League holders had moved to the front of queue to acquire Dembele.
Yet, nothing materialised for the frozen-out Frenchman before the shopping centre for signings shut for business.
Ousmane still up for grabs
This didn’t prevent the claims spilling over into February, with some outlets suggesting the Blues could move for Thomas Tuchel’s former pupil in the summer.
But for now, as Balague explained, Dembele’s next destination is still a complete mystery.
“In terms of his future, I’ve been told a dozen times by his people, he’s got nothing agreed with anybody,” said the revered Spanish journalist.
“In the last few hours of the transfer market, Barcelona called everyone. PSG had a think about it. There was a personal agreement with the player.
“Then, 24 hours before the transfer market closed, all the sides of PSG that I knew contacted me to say: ‘No, it’s all a lie, it’s not happening!’
“Also, Barcelona asked for €20m to get him.
“They tried with English clubs as well and on the last 24 hours they all said no, not interested, apart from one, and that was Spurs.
“The most interesting propositions, they feel, will come from England.”
Chelsea may well revisit Dembele’s situation again once the season concludes and his deal with Barca has possibly expired.
Tuchel’s employers probably won’t be alone, though, as free agents have recently become the name of the game, especially for sides with financial difficulties.
Word of warning to the Stamford Bridge hierarchy; we don’t think this transfer is worth losing sleep or resources over.
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