Barcelona’s Winger Ousmane Dembele Completes Desired PSG Move
The French and Barcelona striker Ousmane Dembele is expected to join PSG by the end of this week, as L’Equipe reports. Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona’s manager, confirmed this as the club was playing friendlies in the US.
Monday, PSG paid €50 million to initiate the release clause procedure, even though the transaction is unusual for the La Liga framework. The funds will aid the Spanish champions in pursuing Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo. Xavi stated earlier this week that he desperately requires a new right back, and Dembele’s departure should give them more flexibility in the summer transfer market.
Paris Saint-Germain had another disappointing season in 2022–2023. After failing to win the UEFA Champions League and Coupe de France, all they had to show for Christophe Galtier’s tenure was a record 11th French championship.
The Assist King Leaves
Dembele moved to Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund for £135 million in 2017, and he was keen to negotiate a new contract before his current one expired in 2024.
Barça and PSG are presently negotiating a contract of comparable value outside the predetermined La Liga release clause. This transfer may be finalized later this week: “Ousmane Dembele has informed us that he wishes to join PSG,” Xavi said in the United States.
“We cannot compete with PSG because their offer is too expensive. Both Nasser Al Khelaifi and Luis Enrique were interviewed. It saddens me because we provided him with care so he could be content here. However, we cannot keep up, so he is leaving”, he concluded.
Dembele informed Barcelona of his desire to play for PSG. Despite his continued friendship with manager Xavi, Dembele believes the club needs to do more to retain him. The Frenchman will sign a five-year contract with the Ligue 1 champion. He will earn approximately €12 million (net) per season, double what he earned at Barcelona.
Dembele will complete his documentation and bring the PSG transfer one step closer to completion, but the transfer fee is still negotiable.
PSG Strengthen Squad
Kylian Mbappe has been featured daily in the headlines this summer. Mbappe missed the August 1 deadline set by PSG to ink a one-year contract extension in Paris. This indicates that he is on the transfer list.
With a deal nearly finalized for Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos, PSG could be close to signing their long-desired No. 9. The agreement will net the Portuguese titans approximately $87 million. This includes bonuses for the star of the Portuguese national team, whose contract will be extended until 2028. PSG is also interested in Portugal teammate Joao Felix.
Luis Campos, who is in charge of sports, and Luis Enrique, the club’s chief coach, want Ramos on their team. The French champions were once intrigued by Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund before his transfer.
The 23-year-old athlete was on loan at Chelsea for the second half of the previous season. Since then, he has returned to Atlético Madrid. PSG and Atletico Madrid have ceased negotiations, but a deal is still conceivable.
PSG signed Arnau Tenas, a goalkeeper from Barcelona, to help restore their backline. Luis Enrique is familiar with the 22-year-old Spanish goalkeeper who will serve as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s reserve this summer, as Keylor Navas is still expected to leave permanently.
