A number of Manchester United supporters have called on the club to consider signing out-of-contract Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele this summer.
United's supporters have made the pleas after he played a starring role in the La Liga giants' 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening at the Camp Nou. Stepping off the bench with just 23 minutes remaining on the clock, the Frenchman scored once and grabbed two assists, helping Xavi's side score four goals for the third game running.
He doubled Barcelona's lead just six minutes after coming off the bench, rifling a left-footed effort past Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon at the near-post. He then claimed two assists as the game edged towards its conclusion, teeing up Dutch duo Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay.
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His three goal involvements mean that he has now been directly involved in four goals in his last two La Liga appearances, claiming an assist in the 4-1 win over Valencia just over a week ago. Now showing signs of life in a Barcelona shirt once again, he will be hoping to become a regular in Xavi's plans between now and the end of the season.
The France international was at the centre of a contract dispute during the January transfer window and Barcelona told him that he was to source a new club before the window closed. Dembele wanted to stay but had rejected the offer of a new deal because it contained a lower salary offer than his current wage.
However, no deal, despite links with the likes of Chelsea and United, materialised, meaning he remained at the Camp Nou to fight for his place. But his performance against Bilbao has sparked calls from some Reds fans for United, who have been linked with signing the winger for several years, to try and land him this coming summer, when he will be available on a free transfer if he does not sign a new contract at the Spanish giants.
Below, MEN Sport has taken a close look at what some United fans have had to say on social media.
As you can see by the messages displayed in the tweets above, United's supporters are keen to see the club explore the possibility of signing Dembele in the summer. As outlined above, he could be a free agent in a few months' time and he is likely to have a train of suitors.
Still only 24, the winger, who joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund back in 2017 for more than £130million, is considered to still have his best years ahead of him. He has shown flashes of his brilliance in Spain but a series of injury issues have got in his way.
He has missed more than 100 matches since joining Barcelona, highlighting the extensive nature of his injury woes. He has made just 134 appearances for the club in almost five years, scoring 32 goals and claiming 26 assists.
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