Barcelona boss Xavi has run out of patience with Ousmane Dembele as the contract standoff with the player continues.
The Barca supremo feels cheated by the Frenchman as contract renewal talks between the two parties have stalled with the forward increasingly likely to leave the Camp Nou.
Barca have already completed the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City this month for an initial fee of £46million, with potential add-ons meaning the deal could rise to £54million.
Recently, Barca boss Xavi Hernandez struck an optimistic tone when asked about Dembele’s future but his mood on the situation has changed.
There are less than six months remaining on the 24-year-old’s deal and he appears to be increasingly likely to depart the Catalan giants after five seasons.
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Barca have been attempting to cut their wage bill but have been unable to find agreement with Dembele’s representatives and the player has been able to negotiate a pre-contract with other clubs since January 1.
Xavi told reporters on Wednesday: “It is a difficult situation with Dembele.
“The club have decided that if he does not renew, we have to look for a solution because they have been waiting too long.
“It has been five months that (sporting director, Mateu Alemany) has been speaking with the agents. Either he renews, or we look for a solution.
“The message is clear: either Dembele renews or we look for an exit for the player – there is nothing else left for it.
“I don’t consider sending him to stands. He says he wants to stay but then he does not sign.
“It is a shame.”
When asked if Dembele would be involved in Xavi’s squad against Athletic Bilbao in Thursday’s Copa del Rey clash, the coach responded: “We will decide tomorrow. It depends on many things.
“The club will decide tomorrow.”
The comments from Xavi come after Dembele’s agent Moussa Sissoko once again criticised the Blaugrana’s approach to the negotiation process.
Sissoko told RMC Sport, as per Marca : “We are not here to feed debates on social networks. But the truth must be told.
“Yes, we have demands, but we have already shown that Ousmane's career options were not dictated by money, otherwise he would not be here.
“So, if Barcelona had wanted to negotiate, they could have tried to sit down at the table with us to discuss.
“Except that there has been no discussion and only threats not to play in their team anymore - and that is illegal.
“We will assert Ousmane's rights if necessary to do so.
“This is a pressure movement that does not work with people like us.
“Perhaps it can work with agents who have friends with Barcelona but this is not my case, I'm here to defend the interests of my player.
“We don't know what we are going to do, nothing has been done.
“But the leaders are only losing Ousmane.
“From the beginning we showed that we wanted to discuss, with clear conditions, but without closing the door.”
A host of clubs are likely to be monitoring Dembele’s situation due to his talent and skillset combined with the fact he would be available for either a cut-price transfer this month or for free in the summer.
Barca paid £105million – in a deal rising to a potential £135m – to sign Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 in a transfer that has become symbolic of the club’s reckless transfer policy.
Dembele utilises his technical ability, speed, and agility to beat opponents and open defences – with his tactical adaptability also likely to be highly valued by many clubs.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have been among the clubs linked with a possible move for the Frenchman.
