Paris Saint-Germain have temporarily halted their pursuit of Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele, handing Liverpool the chance to replace Sadio Mane by snapping up the winger on a free transfer.
Reports in Catalonia suggest that the Champions League finalists made contact with the player’s representatives with a view to a free transfer this summer. Dembele is out of contract at the Camp Nou and his wage demands have priced Barca out of an extension, with the £107m signing from Borussia Dortmund poised to leave for nothing.
PSG had emerged as favourites to land the Frenchman given their financial power and the lure of playing alongside Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi. But the Parisians have been forced to put talks on hold due to multiple ongoing situations at Parc des Princes.
Sport claim that PSG are unwilling to sanction the deal before the official arrival of the new sporting director, Luis Campos, who will replace Leonardo in handling their transfer dealings. It is also believed that Nasser El-Khelaifi, PSG’s chief executive, has been attending to a personal matter which has put a hold on negotiations.
While the report goes on to clarify that the ‘dialogue remains open’, there is a chance for Liverpool to gain the upper hand while PSG wait to resolve their outstanding issues. Jurgen Klopp is likely to be searching for a replacement for Mane after the Senegalese forward reportedly informed his team-mates of his desire for a new challenge.
The 30-year-old is wanted by Bayern Munich, who are expected to lodge a £25million bid to test the Reds’ resolve. However, it has been reported that the Reds have slapped a £42.5m price tag on the Senegal international, but are prepared to sell if their demands are met to avoid Mane walking away next summer as a free agent.
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The Merseyside club are keen to retain his services after scoring 17 goals this season. But with his contract expiring next summer, they could be forced to cash in, with Bayern thought to be offering Mane a lucrative contract until 2025. And if Liverpool and Mane go their separate ways, it would certainly make sense to bring in a younger replacement such as Dembele at a profit, with Klopp thought to be an admirer of his talents.
The winger's contract at the Nou Camp will expire in the coming weeks with PSG, Chelsea and Manchester United linked with the former Borussia Dortmund star. Barca still retain some hope of convincing Dembele to stay with the La Liga side but, with every day his deal edges towards its expiration date, it seems less likely he will renew.
Dembele has managed just 32 goals in 150 appearances for the Catalan giants since his big-money move from Dortmund in 2017, with his injury record proving to be a concern for any potential suitor. However, the 25-year-old has found form under Xavi Hernandez this season, scoring once and providing 13 assists in 21 appearances for the Blaugrana.
