Chelsea willing to pay loan fee to sign 24-year-old World Cup winner this January

Transfer News: Chelsea are interested in loaning out-of-favour Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele

According to Onda Cero via Barca Universal (h/t Football.London), Chelsea could table a loan offer to sign Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona in the January transfer window.

The Blues are also apparently willing to pay a loan fee to bring in the France international to Stamford Bridge. Ousmane Dembele’s consistency has been majorly affected by recurring injury issues throughout his Barcelona career.

With only 31 goals and 23 assists in 129 appearances across all competitions and a portfolio of missed matches greater than 100, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner couldn’t justify the whopping value of £135.5m that the Catalan outfit paid for him back in 2017.

After returning from a knee injury that sidelined him for most of this season, new manager Xavi welcomed Dembele into the starting lineup. However, the French strikers’ off-field activities have created severe concerns for his future at the club. After his agent rejected Barcelona’s contract renewal deadline, the Catalan club publicly claimed they are eyeing to sell the 24-year-old in the ongoing window. 

The right moment to strike?

The situation hasn’t stopped there; Blaugrana manager Xavi has made it clear that he wouldn’t pick the French attacker for his squad until he renews his contract with the club. Looking at the current scenario, the player has to find a new club if he plans to leave Camp Nou. 

Chelsea have taken note of the situation and are currently planning to make a loan offer for the French striker. Dembele has already played under Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund, and a potential reunion at Chelsea may well work in favour of all parties concerned.

But one would argue why we need another attacker in the mix. We already have a plethora of attacking players, especially out wide, with the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi already struggling for minutes.

The 24-year-old is certainly a dynamic forward, capable of playing on both flanks and with both his feet. Those who have watched him at Barca and Dortmund know all about what he can bring to the table. But signing him isn’t really a necessity.

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He only has six months left in his contract and a potential love move to West London would further complicate matters regarding his next permanent destination in the summer. It is better if we focus our funds on signing a wing-back to see out the rest of this season.

And if we have the financial muscle to go and get Dembele on a temporary deal after that, then it would be a signing not many Chelsea would be against.