Ousmane Dembele ready to return for Barça... if he renews

Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed that Ousmane Dembele is ready to return after injury. The coaches estimate that in the coming weeks he can have some minutes, which will be good for a team lacking some attacking threat. In sporting sense, there’s no doubt that he’s necessary. The club are pressing the player hard to sign a new deal. He can walk away for free in the summer and the hour of truth is coming. Negotiations are open. 

His people have slowed things down so they can be in control. The club have always worried he might choose to leave for free in the summer, with Man United, Juventus and Chelsea interested. 

Director of football Mateu Alemany has had almost daily contact with Moussa Sissokho, Dembele’s agent. It’s not an easy negotiation as the club want to keep lowering their salary base. They would like to get as much agreement as possible before Dembele gets back into action. If he wants to walk away they don’t want to give him games, but it’s a tough situation because he is needed on the pitch. His people seem to want to keep listening to offers to make a decision after January - when he can officially negotiate with other clubs. We will have to see what Barca do if he doesn’t renew.