FC Barcelona will consider a swap deal or loan for Ousmane Dembele this summer, as they no longer believe in his future with the club.

LEGANES, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 26: Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between CD Leganes and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on September 26, 2018 in Leganes, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
LEGANES, SPAIN: Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona reacts during a La Liga match on September 26, 2018. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

AS report that Barcelona no longer have faith in 22-year-old Dembele, following injuries, inconsistent form and bad behaviour. They want to sell, but they understand they’ll have difficulty raising funds for him.

As a result, they’re willing to offload him in a swap deal or a loan with an option to buy, as they did with Philippe Coutinho.

Marca echo the same sentiments about Barcelona’s view of Dembele. They write that the club would only sell for €60m, however. They’re willing to keep him for one more season if necessary, but Premier League clubs are watching closely.

The Frenchman has a contract until 2022, so his value is only going to drop from here on. This is all relevant to Arsenal because recent reports suggested the Gunners are following the winger.

Obviously, Arsenal can’t afford a €60m transfer, or anything close to it right now. But a loan move could suit all parties quite well, particularly with a reasonable option to buy.

Barcelona want to see him playing regularly and proving himself, whilst Arsenal could use someone naturally comfortable on the left-wing. A loan would give them the chance to assess his fitness and form first-hand, before making a permanent decision.

In the meantime, if Dembele could help Arsenal back into the Champions League, they might actually be able to afford him.