Manchester United are expected to make a couple of big signings in the upcoming summer transfer window and one player that they have been linked with extensively in recent months is FC Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele.
They are believed to have been after him in the previous summer transfer window as well but ultimately a move failed to materialise.
His contract is quickly running out though and at the end of this season, he will only have a year left on his current deal at the Camp Nou. Thus, FC Barcelona have a decision to make regarding his future.
Naturally, Manchester United have been linked with him once again, especially after his improved performances this season. But Ronald Koeman seems keen to keep hold of Dembele. As reported by Goal, after the Frenchman’s late winner against Real Valladolid, the FC Barcelona manager said:
"“He’s an important player.“He’s shown that with his performance here and above all with the goal that gave us three points. Ousmane’s development this season has been really good.“Physically, he’s improved a lot; I think that’s been the key to his quality and consistency to play so many games. So, yes, if it’s up to me, I would like him to stay with us.”"
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Can Manchester United sign Dembele in the summer?
Things have not gone as expected for Dembele since he joined FC Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund back in 2017.
He has struggled with a series of injuries during his time in Spain, which have stopped him from truly making his mark at the Camp Nou. But he has emerged as an important player under Koeman this season.
According to stats from Transfermarkt, he has scored 10 goals and provided 4 assists in 36 appearances this season. And perhaps even more importantly, he has managed to remain mostly injury free, which is a brilliant sign for his future.
Now the question is, will he end up staying at FC Barcelona or leave? His recent involvement in the La Liga giants’ first-team could convince him to remain with them although he has been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Juventus in recent months. This, of course, would be a blow to the Red Devils and prolong their search for a right winger, a position that they have failed to fill for quite some time now.
It is worth pointing out though, that at this point of time, Dembele’s future at FC Barcelona is still up in the air as he is yet to sign a new contract with them.