In a recent report, Sport has offered an update on Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele’s future as they claimed that the negotiations between the Catalan club and the player over a new contract are ‘not progressing’ well. It is believed that the French wing wizard is facing an uncertain future at the Nou Camp with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season (via Sport).
Dembele’s Decent Season At The Nou Camp So Far
Dembele deserves a lot of credit for steering clear of injuries and making himself available for most of this campaign. The Frenchman has caught the eye by producing some memorable displays as a key member of Ronald Koeman’s frontline. The Vernon-born sensation has featured in 38 matches for the Catalans this term, finding the back of the net on ten occasions and providing four assists in multiple competitions.
The 23-year-old was a joy to watch on European nights based on his average of 3.5 shots, 1.2 key passes and 2.7 dribbles per game in the UEFA Champions League this season. He has also been excellent when distributing possession in the opponent’s half after making 80.3% of his attempted passes in European football (stats via whoscored).
With Barca currently going through a period of transition and the uncertainty surrounding Lionel Messi’s future at the Nou Camp, Dembele has a lot of reasons to find a new club so that he can focus on getting better on the field and re-establish himself as one of the best wide players in Europe.
Should Koeman Keep Hold Of Dembele At The Nou Camp For The Long-Run?
Dembele is one of the quickest players at Ronald Koeman’s disposal and loves to stretch the opposition defence by making some clever runs in behind them. He is proficient at getting to the by-line that makes him such a great weapon for Barca to call upon during a game.
Despite a difficult start to this campaign, the French speedster has done well to help stabilise the ship at Catalonia by scoring some important goals for Koeman’s side across all competitions. Hence, the Dutch head coach cannot afford to let Dembele go without trying everything in his power to keep him beyond the summer of 2022.
At 23, the ex-Bundesliga talent is yet to enter his prime, so the Catalan giants can expect to get the best out of him if they manage to tie the player down to a new deal. Hence, it is only logical for Koeman to retain Dembele’s services for the long run in the hopes that he can prove his doubters wrong and be a success story at the Nou Camp in the years to come.
