Chelsea boss stays quiet on La Liga star amid talks of reunion

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has refused to be drawn on the future of Ousmane Dembele, amid rumours that the German will make attempt to reunite with the French international this month. 

The former Rennes winger is set to be out of contract in the summer, and his current club Barcelona are reportedly looking to offload him this month in order to avoid losing him for free at the end of the season, according to Sky Sports.

The pair worked together for a year while both in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, and the Chelsea boss has spoken of his admiration for the player.

Speaking to the press on Friday, Tuchel explained how Dembele “Is a very good player when he is in his top level.”

“I am very fortunate to have trained him in my time in Dortmund.

“It was only one year, it should have been longer but I needed to leave and he decided to leave,” he added.

Dembele has started just 59 La Liga games in the five years since he joined Barcelona

The German, who left the club for Paris Saint-Germain, also revealed that the pair have been in contact since they both left the Bundesliga.

“We met here and there because of his duties for the French national team, and of course I was in Paris which was more or less where he was preparing with the national team.

“So this is where we met, or exchanged some messages,” he said.

Tuchel did however stop short of admitting an interest in taking the player this month, despite reports that he could be available for as little as £15 million.

“He is in a situation, and I have absolutely no idea why he is in a situation.

“I have no idea what the situation in detail is.

“I know how I feel about it when it is my players so it’s better not to talk.”

The winger joined Barcelona from Dortmund for a fee of £135 million in 2017, but has been plagued by injuries during his time in Spain and now looks unlikely to remain there beyond the end of the month.