Barca sit and wait after offering Dembele a new deal

Ousmane Dembele's Barcelona contract expires on 30th June 2022. From January, the Frenchman will be free to negotiate with whoever he wants if he does not extend his contract at Barcelona. 

And at Barcelona they fear that that is what Moussa Sissoko, Dembele's agent, is trying to do. According to 'Sport', the club have already offered him a new deal: a contract until 2024, which is a two year extension, but a lower salary. 

But Dembele's agent thinks he has the upper hand. The fact Dembele's contract is close to expiring means that he could attract interest in January. They could use that possible interest to try and get the winger a better contract. 

So, Barcelona have accepted that talks will go on for a while. They understand that Dembele's priority is to stay at Barcelona, but they think that the agent will try and buy time. 

If the agent drags this on past January, as Barca expect, the Catalans will resort to plan B. That would see him have a contract until 2025 and his salary would remain untouched. That would be done to try and get Dembele to sign and to persuade his agent as well. 

Last Monday, Dembele met with Laporta, Alemany and Yuste, part of the Barca board. The club are looking to renew him as soon as possible, but they know it could drag on for a while.