Gavi and Dembele contract updates given by Barcelona
Robin Bairner
- 11 Jun 2022 18:10 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has updated supporters on the latest contract negotiations for Gavi and Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele is out of contract at the end of June and will be eligible to depart the club on a free transfer. Chelsea and PSG are among the clubs who have been linked with an interest in the France international winger.
Gavi contract negotiations going well
Gavi’s case is rather different. His contract expires in 2023 but he has a €50 million release clause that makes him vulnerable to leaving for the like of Liverpool, who hold an interest in the teenage Spain international.
It is seen with a sense of urgency that Gavi signs a new deal, which will see his release clause raised to a level at which no-one will be able to afford him. Barca would presumably seek to give him a €1 billion release fee, in line with their other promising young stars.
Laporta has talked up the negotiations that Barca are currently in with the 17-year-old.
“We’re optimistic because we want Gavi to continue at Barcelona,” Laporta said. “We are especially that he continues here because he is from La Masia. The player and his agent want to remain at Barca. We’re very close to reaching an agreement.”
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Ousmane Dembele latest
Meanwhile, Laporta was more pessimistic when it came to the case of former Dortmund and Rennes winger Dembele, who has steadfastly refused to sign a new a deal with the club, despite threats that he would be frozen out of the first-team picture.
“Dembele has a proposal to continue here but we have no news that he has accepted it,” the president said. “We’ve had no response from him.”
Lewandowski to Barcelona update
Finally, Laporta addressed the speculation that still surrounds Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, who continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona.
“We’re not going to talk about him because it would be disrespectful to Bayern,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bild claims that Lewandowski prefers a move to PSG than staying at the Bundesliga champions.
