Barcelona issue Ousmane Dembele contract ultimatum

Barcelona have given Ousmane Dembele two weeks to sign a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

Dembele has underwhelmed since arriving at Camp Nou in 2017 for an eye-watering fee of almost £150m, largely due to injuries and poor form. 121 appearances have yielded just 30 goals and 22 assists with his signing emblematic of Barça’s wider failings in recent years.

Despite all this, the club remain keen to keep him beyond the end of this season with head coach Xavi recently saying that Dembele had the potential to become the best winger in the world over the next few years.

With his contract winding down – he will be free to discuss a transfer with foreign sides in January – Barcelona have now issued him an ultimatum. According to Mundo Deportivo, the club want a decision within 14 days over whether Dembele wants to accept the offer on the table.

It is understood that although the player is keen to renew, his agent could be stalling talks in order to keep the Frenchman’s options open. Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move in the past and there would be no shortage of other suitors in January should a contract not be agreed.

It is thought that Barcelona have offered Dembele terms in line with the club’s other top players. There are also significant incentive-based bonuses included. Time is running out for Dembele to accept this deal, though.

On the pitch, the 24-year-old has only just returned from a long-term knee injury. He has made substitute cameos in his side’s last two Champions League games and also played 24 minutes as Barça beat Villarreal 3-1 in La Liga to continue Xavi’s unbeaten start as manager.