Transfer News: Boost for Chelsea as PSG set to withdraw from Ousmane Dembele race
According to Ben Jacobs on Twitter (h/t Football.London), Chelsea have been handed a transfer boost with PSG set to drop out of the race for Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele.
Dembele joined Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 and has had a very mixed five years at Camp Nou during this period. Injury-ridden during his first 3-4 years with the Blaugrana, the talented winger has been a player reborn under Xavi Hernandez this season.
The French forward has been a key player in the Barcelona team, especially in the second half of the season and is finally realising the potential that made the Spanish club pay all that money so many years back. The 25-year-old has played 32 times for Barcelona this season scoring two goals and providing 15 assists across all competitions.
With his deal with the Catalan club set to run out this summer, Dembele has not yet agreed to a new deal with the Spanish club yet. PSG and Chelsea were said to be in a race to sign the talented winger but the former club is set to drop out of the running.
A bargain?
Anyone who has seen Dembele play knows the quality the player possesses and he will undoubtedly be a great signing for the Blues.
Having already played under Thomas Tuchel back during their time at Borussia Dortmund, the German coach may know how to get the best out of Dembele and how he could integrate him into his team next season. The 25-year-old winger is perfectly capable of playing on either wing and even in the wing-back positions if needed.
Although a forward is not the priority for the Blues by any stretch, it is almost impossible to say no to Dembele on a free. Signing the player will also give Chelsea an opportunity to sell one of their existing forwards for a good fee and also get a replacement for free.
The only thing that might worry the Blues is the Frenchman’s less-than-favourable injury record but as we have seen over the past 6 to 7 months, Dembele finally seems to be over it. The kind of goods he produces when fit makes this a gamble worth taking.
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A player of Dembele’s quality even at a price will seem like a bargain. Getting him for free could be a steal and the Blues must do it without any hesitations. With PSG now not that keen on a move for the former Rennes man, the Blues would be wise to go all out for the Barca star.