Does Traore's arrival spell the end for Dembele at Barcelona?
FT Desk
- 27 Jan 2022 19:01 GMT
- 7 min read
Barcelona look set to pull off another remarkable January transfer window move, with Wolves winger Adama Traore set to return to the lub.
According to multiple reports in Spain, the former La Masia graduate looks set to complete a loan move to Barca before the end of the month.
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The Spanish giants will have a non-mandatory clause to sign Traore for a fee of €30 million, plus bonuses. Which will surely depend on how well he does in the second of the season.
However, while Traore may relish the opportunity to return to the club that he left as a 19-year-old, his arrival does raise question marks over another winger that could be set to leave Barca.
Dembele set to leave Barca
Ousmane Dembele’s contract at Barca is set to expire at the end of the season and following a breakdown in negotiations between the club and the player’s representatives, it now looks certain that he will leave in January.
The club itself has confirmed as much, with manager Xavi saying on Saturday: “There’s no debate. I’ve been very clear. It depends on him. Ousmane’s situation hasn’t changed.
“He knows perfectly well what his situation is. He is calm, he is training well and he is part of our training group. There are still days left but there’s no alternative.”
As such, unless Dembele accepts the club’s salary demands, the France international looks set to be sold at the end of the month.
Is Traore a replacement for Dembele?
As such, Barcelona’s very recent approach for Traore, who seemed set on a move from Wolves to Tottenham Hotspur up until a few days ago, can’t exactly be seen as little more than a coincidence.
Although Barca already have a number of forward players, the Spanish winger will be seen by many as a direct replacement for Dembele from January onwards. And could end up being a long-term solution if he’s signed permanently in the summer window.
Whether Dembele signs a new contract between now and then remains to be seen, but there’s little doubt that Traore’s arrival will put pressure on his French counterpart.
