Chelsea target could be available next summer despite signing new deal

Chelsea were at the centre of several transfer sagas over the summer, as new owner Todd Boehly looked to provide then-manager Thomas Tuchel with reinforcements. 

The Blues ultimately landed Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a quartet that suggests it was a successful summer for the club.

One name that they missed out on, though, was Ousmane Dembele.

The Frenchman looked certain to leave Barcelona in January but ended up staying put and finished the season strongly, which fuelled Chelsea’s interest.

Tuchel had worked with the winger at Borussia Dortmund and was rumoured to be keen on a reunion, but despite rumours around the proposed transfer lasting the majority of the summer, Dembele eventually signed a new contract at the Nou Camp.

Dembele was rumoured to be close to joining Chelsea over the summer

One could have been forgiven for thinking that his new deal two-year deal would dampen any transfer rumours, but that wasn’t the case.

As reported by L’Equipe via Football365, the deal that the forward signed included a release clause that becomes active next summer.

That means that the player would be allowed to leave next summer for as little as £43.7 million, with Barcelona unable to do anything to stop him.

While Chelsea ultimately looked to other attacking targets including Sterling and Aubameyang, they are unlikely to have ruled out making another move for Dembele, especially considering his form of late.

The 25-year-old has two goals and four assists in eight matches so far this season across both La Liga and the Champions League.

His superb start to the campaign carries on from last term, when he registered 11 assists in his final 14 league matches having agreed to spend the remainder of the season in Catalunya.

It is also claimed by the report that, if a club were to agree a deal for Dembele, Barcelona would only receive around half of the fee, with the player and his representatives set to pocked the remainder.

Either way, the Spanish side look almost certain to make a considerable loss on a player that they paid more than £110 million for just five years ago.

The report also suggests that both Manchester United and Liverpool have been interested in the player in recent months.