Sport has recently reported that Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele is inching closer towards renewing his contract at the Nou Camp. It has been stated that the Catalan giants are now optimistic about their chances of keeping hold of the French wing wizard for the long run with his current contract set to run out at the end of next season (via Sport).
Dembele’s Impressive Season At The Nou Camp
Dembele had a much-improved campaign in Spanish football as he established himself as an essential member of Ronald Koeman’s frontline. The 24-year-old was involved in 44 matches for the Catalan side last season, scoring 11 goals and grabbing five assists for them across various competitions.
The Vernon-born sensation found some consistency for Barca in the attacking end of the field after he averaged 1.8 shots, 1.3 key passes and 2.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga. He was even excellent with his accuracy when linking up play with his teammates in the opposition half after completing 85.8% of his attempted passes in the top tier of Spanish football (stats via whoscored).
Dembele has finally begun to show what he is capable of at the Nou Camp over the past 12 months. However, the Frenchman is still quite injury-prone so there are some concerns over his long-term health which can sometimes make him unreliable at the highest level.
Dembele Close To Penning A New Contract: Good Move For Both Parties?
Dembele is a pacey winger who can turn on the afterburners to lose his marker in the final third. He excels at getting to the byline and can deliver a few inviting crosses into the opposition penalty box. The 27-time France international is a composer finisher in front of the opponent’s goal and can also pick up some handy assists up top. However, Dembele has to find a way to play regularly at the top level if he wants to fulfil his true potential.
At 24, the best is yet to come from the Frenchman, so it makes a lot of sense for Barca to tie him down to a new deal so that they can get the best out of him in the coming seasons. He remains a solid first-team option but can also make a positive impact off the bench if required.
Now that Dembele is close to signing a new contract, it seems like a good move for both the player and the Catalan club as they look to win some trophies together at the Nou Camp over the next few years.
