Barcelona president Joan Laporta has claimed that Ousmane Dembele could already have an agreement in place to join another club in the summer.
The 24-year-old was told to leave Camp Nou in the January transfer window over his refusal to sign a new deal, but the deadline passed with the attacker still on the books in Catalonia.
Dembele is now widely expected to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, and Laporta believes that the France international’s next career move could already be decided.
“We think Ousmane Dembélé has an agreement in place with another club,” Laporta told reporters, as quoted by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
“He didn’t want to leave the club in January. It’s really difficult to understand his position, makes no sense for him and for the club.”
Chelsea were linked with a last-minute swoop for Dembele before Monday’s transfer deadline, while Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were also credited with an interest in the former Borussia Dortmund man.
Dembele has endured another injury-hit season with the Catalan giants – scoring just one goal and setting up two more in 11 appearances across all competitions.
