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Barcelona have issued a fresh ultimatum to Ousmane Dembele, giving the forward until Christmas Day to accept their latest contract offer.
Dembele’s current deal expires at the end of the season and if a new deal is not agreed by the New Year, he will be able to hammer out a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs.
Barça have been attempting to extend Dembele’s stay at Camp Nou for some time and initially wanted a the player to make a decision by 15 December.
With that deadline passed, Mundo Deportivo report that the club will now give Dembele until Christmas Day to decide his future.
Both new head coach Xavi and president Joan Laporta are eager to tie down the Frenchman on a long-term deal.
In his first address to the club’s supporters, Xavi claimed that Dembele could become the best in his position in world football, and Laporta echoed these glowing reviews recently, revealing his belief that the player was better than Kylian Mbappe.
Despite these endorsements Dembele has mostly underwhelmed since arriving at Barcelona for almost £150m in 2017. A combination of apparent ill discipline and injuries have seen the wideman register just 30 goals and 25 assists in 125 games.
It is thought that Dembele’s agent, Moussa Sissoko, is the one holding up the contract extension. He is remaining tight-lipped over whether his client wants to remain at the club and Barça are losing patience – hence the (second) ultimatum.
Even if Dembele does pen fresh terms, the Blaugrana are looking to bring in reinforcements in January. Strengthening up front is Xavi’s priority and they have already been linked with several high-profile targets.
Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani is being considered, as is recently-deposed Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Vincent Paul
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