MX23RW : Sunday, November 17 06:21:58| >> :120:9750:9750:

Xavi 'asks Barcelona chiefs to make one final effort to keep Ousmane Dembele'

Xavi 'asks Barcelona chiefs to make one final effort to keep Dembele'
© Reuters
Barcelona manager Xavi reportedly asks the club to make one final last-ditch attempt to agree a new contract with soon-to-be free agent Ousmane Dembele.

Barcelona manager Xavi has reportedly urged the club's hierarchy to make one final attempt to keep Ousmane Dembele at the club.

The France international has less than two weeks left to run on his contract at Camp Nou and is set to walk out of the door as a free agent as things stand.

Barcelona tried and failed to force Dembele out of the door in January, but the 25-year-old returned to become an integral member of the team under Xavi.

Dembele provided 13 assists in 21 La Liga matches last term - the most of any player in the league - and Xavi has left the door open for the attacker to stay at the club.

Lengthy negotiations over a new contract are yet to bear fruit, but according to the Daily Mail, Xavi has pleaded with the powers-that-be to try to keep Dembele.

Barcelona coach Xavi during the match on April 18, 2022© Reuters

With La Blaugrana yet to finalise deals surrounding TV rights, as well as stakes in merchandise assets and marketing licensing, Xavi is said to be fearful that some of the club's top targets could slip through their grasp.

As a result, the Spaniard is determined to retain Dembele's services after he beat off competition from Adama Traore to become Barca's first-choice right-winger in the second half of the season.

Dembele has strongly hinted that he would be prepared to extend his Catalan contract after telling a fan that he was "good at Barcelona" when recently questioned on his future.

However, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are both still said to be monitoring developments, with Thomas Tuchel keen to reunite with his former Borussia Dortmund protege.

Dembele cost Barcelona a total of £126m to sign from Dortmund five years ago, and the World Cup winner has registered 32 goals and 34 assists in 149 games for the club since.

Ousmane Dembele in action for Barcelona in February 2022© Reuters

Injuries have bedevilled Dembele during his five-year stay in Catalonia, though, as he has missed a further 102 matches in all competitions through various fitness woes.

Nevertheless, the former Rennes youngster has picked up a respectable haul of medals, winning two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey crowns and the Supercopa de Espana with Barcelona.

Xavi's side are believed to have lined up Leeds United's Raphinha as an ideal replacement for Dembele, but the Blaugrana are yet to meet the Whites' asking price for the Brazil international.

Arsenal are also understood to be in direct contact with Leeds over a move for Raphinha, who could command as much as €75m (£64.5m) to leave Elland Road.

Robert Lewandowski also remains a priority target for the forward line, and Barcelona are supposedly preparing to meet Bayern Munich this week to discuss a move for the 33-year-old.

ID:488518:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5394:

Ousmane Dembele future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Xavi

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Ousmane Dembele in action for Barcelona in April 2022
Read Next:
Ousmane Dembele hints at Barcelona stay?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Packers
@
Bears
6pm
Raiders
@
Dolphins
6pm
Colts
@
Jets
6pm
Jags
@
Lions
6pm
Rams
@
Patriots
6pm
Browns
@
Saints
6pm
Ravens
@
Steelers
6pm
Vikings
@
Titans
9.05pm
Seahawks
@
49ers
9.05pm
Falcons
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Chiefs
@
Bills
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!