Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele has revealed that the La Liga champions want to tie him down to a new deal until the summer of 2027.
The France international became a free agent for two weeks last year upon the end of his previous Blaugrana deal, but he subsequently agreed to fresh terms on a two-year contract.
Dembele revived his Barcelona career under Xavi and played a prominent role in their successful 2022-23 season, registering eight goals and nine assists from 35 games in all tournaments.
The 26-year-old contributed five goals and seven assists from 26 top-flight games as Barca won the La Liga title, but with his contract now due to expire in 12 months' time, his future is being called into question again.
It had been reported that La Blaugrana were concerned about Financial Fair Play regulations preventing them from tying Dembele down to a new deal, as Barca are under pressure to significantly trim their wage bill this summer.
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However, in an interview with Marca, Dembele has confirmed that Barcelona are planning to hand him a new four-year deal, and talks over a renewal are going "very well".
"It's going very well. Barcelona want me to renew until 2027, my representative will talk to them. I am happy at the team, also at home, in Barcelona. We'll see what happens with the matter," Dembele said.
The France attacker made a name for himself as a teenager at Rennes and Borussia Dortmund before earning a £115.4m move to Barcelona in 2017, but his time at Camp Nou has been disrupted by several injuries.
Dembele has come up with 40 goals and 43 assists from 185 outings in Catalonian colours, but he has also been forced to sit out a further 119 games through injury or illness.
The 2022-23 season was no different for Dembele on the injury front, as a hamstring problem kept him out of action between the start of February and end of April, seeing him miss three clashes with Real Madrid and a Europa League playoff tie with Manchester United.
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However, the 26-year-old returned for the final few weeks of the season and set up goals against Mallorca and Celta Vigo during Barca's final two matches of a triumphant La Liga campaign.
Having enjoyed more minutes than in previous years, Dembele responded positively when asked if he was happier at Camp Nou than he was during his earliest days, saying: "Yes, this year, and the previous one too. Because I have been able to play many games.
"Before it was more difficult because I suffered many injuries. Now I'm happier because I'm playing a lot more. And I'm also happy with the team and with the people at Barcelona."
Dembele has now won three La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and two Supercopa de Espana crowns at Barcelona and returned to the France squad for June's Euro 2024 qualifiers, playing 24 minutes off the bench in Friday's 3-0 win over Gibraltar.
Ben Knapton
