Dembele demands incredible €240m to stay at Barcelona
Ousmane Dembele is demanding a financial package worth an incredible €240 million in order to sign a new contract at Barcelona, according to L’Equipe.
Dembele’s contract at Camp Nou expires at the end of June but Barcelona are keen for the winger to renew.
Manager Xavi and president Joan Laporta have persistently praised Dembele in recent months and urged him to pen a new deal.
And this crusade had appeared to have worked as it had appeared last month as if Dembele was on the verge of signing a new deal.
However, negotiations suddenly ground to a halt at the turn of the year.
🚨 Ousmane Dembélé is now poised to leave Barcelona for free this summer when his contract runs out. A number of clubs around Europe are interested but a move to the Premier League is likely.
(Source: Daily Mirror) pic.twitter.com/ZgjNEMFl9h— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) January 12, 2022
Dembele was reported to have been unhappy that Barcelona were offering him a contract at much-reduced wages while at the same time putting together a huge economic deal in order to sign Ferran Torres from Man City for €55m plus €10m in add-ons.
Xavi subsequently remarked that Dembele needed to reduce his wage demands, also saying that was necessary in order to register Torres.
What wages is Dembele asking for?
L’Equipe have now reported that Dembele is actually demanding a package that will set Barcelona back a staggering €240m in order to stay.
Dembele is requesting a contract worth €40m per year gross for five seasons. He is also demanding a €40m signing-on fee.
Barcelona cannot afford this investment given they are €1.3 billion in debt and have already committed to the huge outlay on Ferran Torres.
However, the French-based publication adds that Barca have not given up hope on getting Dembele to stay.
A host of Premier League clubs are interested in signing Dembele on a Bosman transfer, as are PSG and Juventus.