LEGANES, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 23: Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona in action during the Liga match between CD Leganes and FC Barcelona at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on November 23, 2019 in Leganes, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Arsenal interested in €50m Dembele deal

Apr 20, 2020

Arsenal and Manchester United hold an interest in Ousmane Dembele this summer, as his value drops to less than half what Barcelona bought him for.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 07: Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona looks on during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Leganes at Camp Nou on April 7, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) — BARCELONA, SPAIN: Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona looks on during a La Liga match on April 7, 2018. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Diario Sport (via beIN SPORTS) claim Arsenal and Manchester United are considering a transfer for Dembele, looking into the reasons for his persistent injury problems. Barcelona would reportedly consider offers of around €50m (£43.6m).

The La Liga club originally signed the 22-year-old for over €100m. His value is now in freefall, thanks to those fitness concerns and his slowly dwindling contract. This summer, he’ll only have two seasons left on his deal.

Dembele is only up to nine appearances for the season, missing 26 games with injury (mostly hamstring problems). He also missed a couple of games through suspension after an 88th-minute red card against Sevilla.

Barcelona are keen to raise funds, and they’re clearly losing faith in Dembele. If any club could get the player fit, they’d have a top prospect on their hands. There’s no doubting the winger’s talent, he just isn’t getting a chance to express it.

Arsenal don’t exactly have a great record with fixing up injury-prone players, though. €50m would be a great investment for a top winger at 22, but not if he’s going to play as regularly as Abou Diaby or Jack Wilshere did.