This is one of the challenges for the next few weeks for FC Barcelona: will Ousmane Dembélé (25) return or leave for free when his contract expires? The answer is awaited. As Fabrizio Romano reveals, the Catalan leaders – who met the French international’s agent on Monday – have still not received a final answer from the French winger. Several clubs are monitoring his situation, ready to recruit him without having to pay significant transfer fees. Among them, Paris Saint-Germain, who would be in a good position to attract the ambidextrous winger.
SEE ALSO – The best of Ousmane Dembélé at FC Barcelona
Author of a very good season on the side of Olympique de Marseille, where he was loaned by Arsenal for the whole of the 2021-2022 financial year, William Saliba (21) must return to London. But according to various sources, the tricolor central defender has informed the Marseille leaders of his desire to continue his Marseille adventure. And the latter intend to keep it: “We discussed a lot about what we can do, what are the possibilities. We respect his club, we have to thank Arsenal. It’s a friendly club that helped us a lot during the last transfer window. We have very good relations. There is the will of the player, there is the will of the club, but you have to respect Arsenal”, explained Pablo Longoria on RMC. Problem: the Gunners are counting on him for the future as well as the present. According to the revelations of Fabrizio Romano, the London leaders want him in their workforce next season. Discussions could also soon open with the French international camp to negotiate an extension of his contract which expires in June 2024. The fight is on.
What future for Alphonse Areola (29)? Loaned to West Ham this season by Paris Saint-Germain, the tricolor goalkeeper has been the author of very good performances in the Premier League. But his contract with the Hammers ends in just over a month. According to the information revealed by RMC Sport, the capital club should meet shortly with its representative to discuss its future. It is not certain that the French international wants to return to the Rouge et Bleu to be the third choice as goalkeeper behind Gianluigi Donnarumma and Keylor Navas.
After recruiting Bruno Guimarães (24 years old) last winter against 42.1 M€, excluding bonuses, Newcastle would now tackle another Lyonnais: Lucas Paqueta (24 years old). According to information revealed by The Times, the Magpies would even be ready to splurge to reunite the two Brazilians since they could offer a little less than €59 million to Olympique Lyonnais to recruit him. A substantial sum – never disbursed by the British team – which should make the Rhone leaders think who have, it should be remembered, encountered financial difficulties in recent months. On the one hand, it could be complicated for Les Gones to keep their best player, courted by many European clubs; especially since they will not play in the European Cup next season. On the other, can they part with their playing master after such a disappointing 2021-2022 financial year? Answer in the next few weeks.
It’s official: Patrick Schick’s (26) adventure at Bayer Leverkusen is far from over. The Czech centre-forward has indeed extended his contract with the Rouge et Noir until June 2027. “I just feel good here, but above all our team is promising for the future. It’s great fun to play with these guys and we’re really keen to achieve something,” he said after signing his contract. This season, the forward has netted 24 goals in 27 Bundesliga appearances.
