Barcelona want to extend Dembele’s contract, talks expected

Barcelona want to open contract extension talks with attacking midfielder Ousmane Dembele, reports Fabrizio Romano.

The France international signed a new deal until 2024 last summer after complicated negotiations.

Dembele is in the form of his life this term and manager Xavi wants to keep him beyond next year.

Barca were at risk of losing Dembele for free and plenty of clubs were falling over themselves to sign him. However, he finally signed a two-year deal in July 2022.

The La Liga club are unwilling to go through that again and will open talks over a new deal soon.

The former Borussia Dortmund winger ended last season with the most assists (13) in the Spanish top flight.

He has continued from where he left off, netting five league goals and five assists in 18 games this term.

Dembele has also weighed in with three goals and two assists in 10 games across other competitions.

Barcelona are top of the La Liga table after 21 games, and the Frenchman has been superb.

They won their 14th Spanish Super Cup last month after a 3-1 victory over bitter eternal rivals Real Madrid.

Barca hope to end this term with the La Liga title, Europa League and Copa del Rey.

Dembele is currently injured with a hamstring problem he suffered against Girona last month.

The ex-Rennes star will be unavailable when the Catalans face Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League play-off on Thursday.

It is safe to say they will miss his impact, given his huge influence this term.