BarcelonaThe transfer market closes at midnight and Barça are still waiting to sign a center-forward and a winger. But the operations are conditioned on the departure of Ousmane Dembélé, who is currently refusing to leave the Barça club. Without Dembélé leaving, the club does not have enough salary margin to sign anyone, unless they are charging a token amount, almost for free.
Álvaro Morata ruled out due to a lack of understanding with Atlético de Madrid, Barça started talks with Arsenal a few days ago in order to be able to incorporate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is not included in the team’s plans gunner and that he wants to leave London in this winter market. It would be a transfer with option to buy at the end of the season. The two clubs have already agreed, and there is also an understanding with the footballer. However, without Dembélé taking the step – either leaving or renewing downwards – all the conversations end on wet paper.
However, Barça still do not lose hope and will make one last attempt today. “We know it’s complicated, but we have time until midnight,” said club sources. But he would need to convince Aubameyang to agree to come with a very low salary, more or less the same as Dani Alves did. The club was able to earn a salary margin with the transfer of Coutinho to Aston Villa, but it was spent with the signing of Ferran Torres and the arrival of Adama Traoré. There are still some crumbs, but tiny ones.
PSG do not want Dembélé either
At the same time, he is still waiting for Dembélé, a footballer who has received some proposals to leave but who has declined because he cannot find a club that will pay him the same as he receives in Barcelona. Despite Barça’s threat to leave him in the stands until the end of the season, neither the winger nor his controversial agent have responded to the club. The Premier League, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle as interested clubs, seemed the most likely destination for the Frenchman, but he has not accepted any of the offers. In the last few hours, Dembélé’s agent explained that he had met with Paris Saint-Germain to discuss a possible transfer, in the form of an exchange, but the French club is not interested. In any case, everything would go through the approval of a Dembélé who has so far prioritized ending his contract with Barça, even if he is watching the matches from the stands.
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