Barcelona start long-term renewal talks with Dembele

Barcelona want to tie Ousmane Dembele up to a long-term contract, and they have reportedly made initial contacts with his agent, Moussa Sissoko, to facilitate the process. 

The 25-year-old has the trust of Xavi Hernandez, and despite only signing a renewal in the summer of 2022, the club want to further align his journey with theirs, and they are said to be offering a five-year contract extension. 

Barcelona signed Dembele from Dortmund in the summer of 2017, but injuries and inconsistency have hampered his Barcelona career, and he was on his way out of the club with his contract set to expire and the Blaugrana unwilling to match his salary demands. 

However, following the employment of Xavi, the trust the Spanish manager showed the France international seemed to bring the best out of him, and it coincided with improved health for the former Rennes winger. 

On the Spanish manager's request, the club signed Dembele to a two-year deal to stave off his exit as a free agent and are now said to have returned to the negotiating table for a long-term deal.

According to Marca, the club met with the player's agent last week to discuss a renewal. In the current two-year deal, Dembele's €100 million release clause is halved to €50 million this summer, but the player, through his agent, stated his unwillingness to use the clause as he wants to continue at the club. 

Barcelona are also interested in keeping him and were said to have promised to send a formal offer soon. The length of the deal is expected to last until 2028.