Barcelona's sporting advisor Jordi Cruyff has admitted that Ousmane Dembele's contract situation at the club is "not easy".
football.london reported in January that Chelsea were monitoring the 24-year-old's situation at Barcelona, with less than six months remaining on his contract at the Nou Camp.
Dembele has been in talks with his employers over renewing his deal for some time now, but the two parties have been unable to agree on terms.
Now, Cruyff has issued an update on the France international, admitting the situation is rather complicated but also how he is pleased with the way the winger is playing at the moment.
"The situation regarding Dembele's renewal is not easy," Cruyff said, via Sport, after the Frenchman recorded two assists in Barca's win over Osasuna on Sunday.
"I think the most important thing is that he continues to help the team and the rest will be seen.
"He has played a good game, like many players who end their contract with the future already done and others who are looking for a better contract.
"That he continues helping the team to achieve the maximum objectives and the rest we cannot control."
As it stands, with the sanctions imposed on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich last week, the club are unable to do any transfer business.
However, these sanctions are set to be reviewed again in May, with Chelsea hopeful they will be lifted so they are able to bring new players to the club when the season concludes.
Dembele could re-emerge as a target for the Blues, especially if he leaves Barcelona and becomes a free agent.
Barcelona chief Mateu Alemany, when speaking in January, told Dembele he could leave the club before the window shut at the end of the month.
He said: "We understand Dembele’s decision is to not continue and we’ve communicated our decision. We want players that are committed to the club and we have told him he has to leave the club as soon as possible.
"We started talks in July. We have made several offers, which were all rejected. He has been told that he must leave the club, he is not committed to the project."
Despite Chelsea being linked with a move for Dembele in January, Thomas Tuchel insisted there were no talks between the two parties that month.
Tuchel said: "I did not have contact with Ousmane. There was no contact in winter."
