Chelsea have been handed a major boost towards completing the signing of Ousmane Dembele this summer, with Barcelona surrendering a huge lead. The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this season, with Thomas Tuchel reportedly eager to reunite with his former colleague.
The Blues are understood to be favourites to sign Dembele, who sees his contract at the Camp Nou expire at the end of the month. Barcelona are said to have been keen to keep the France international but the Spanish giants have struggled to agree a new deal.
Dembele rejected Barcelona's initial offer, according to journalist Sique Rodriguez Gairi from Spanish radio network La Cadena SER. Reports claim that Xavi's side have since offered the winger a fresh contract as part of a last-ditch effort to ward off interest from Chelsea - among other potential suitors too.
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However, the Spanish giants could withdraw said offer as discussions over a new deal with continue to stall. And, Barcelona are believed to have grown frustrated over the progress of negotiations.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Blaugrana are considering withdrawing their latest contract proposal to Dembele. With the club’s well-documented financial problems in mind, the report adds that senior figures at Camp Nou are concerned about their image amid these discussions.
The Daily Mail claim that the Frenchman is open to staying at Barcelona, but only if he's offered more than the reported £150,000-a-week deal that he's already on. It's said that Chelsea are could be willing to offer Dembele £200,000 a week on a four-year deal, with a large signing-on fee included.
Tuchel is known to be a big admirer of the forward, with the pair having worked together at Borussia Dortmund. The duo enjoyed time alongside one another in the Bundesliga - so much so that the German's management steered Dembele towards a huge £135.5million move to the Catalan state.
football.london understand that Chelsea are interested in the Frenchman and could move for him this summer. However, it's believed that the club will likely need to make space for his arrival with the sale of an attacker - or two.
Regardless of whether the west London boss signs Dembele, Tuchel is keen to undergo a rebuild at Chelsea this summer. With the new ownership group eager to bolster the Blues' armoury, The Telegraph report that after player sales are taken into account, the club could be granted a £200million to spend this summer.
Speaking to football.london, the Blues boss said: "We are rebuilding, not improving the squad. We are rebuilding. This is always challenging, but we are up for the challenge.
"I don't know where we are from day one. What I can promise is that I will be here – if I can promise that – I will be here with full energy and positive energy no matter what. We will still work for Chelsea, and I refuse to think of negative scenarios. We will be competitive, on which level we will see."
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