Liverpool are no longer interested in signing Ousmane Dembele, but the forward will leave Barcelona this summer, a respected journalist claims.
Dembele has long been linked with a move to the Premier League after falling out of favour at the Camp Nou, with Liverpool recently named as the club who were in pole position to sign him, ahead of fellow suitors Manchester United.
The picture appears to have changed, though, with Spanish football expert Guillem Balague revealing that Liverpool are not the team Dembele will be joining.
“Dembele needs to go back to his level, injuries have been very serious, very, very often,” he is quoted as saying by the Express. “He is on his third season at Barcelona I think and the stats are not fantastic.
“There were question marks about his ability to adapt to Barcelona and to be professional, and those question marks remain even though he has improved a lot on nutrition and everything else.
“He isn’t a player for Liverpool but Barcelona will be open for offers in the summer.”
Dembele is currently facing an extended spell on the sidelines with an injury – which allowed Barcelona to complete the emergency signing of Martin Braithwaite from Leganes – and those issues could only serve to increase his club’s conviction that it is the right time to let him go.
However, Liverpool seemingly are ruled out of the race to sign him – which may be tied to stories earlier that the Reds are in advanced talks to sign another long-term target, Timo Werner from RB Leipzig.
Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol has claimed that Werner “favours a move to Liverpool”, amid reports his £50m release clause could be activated – although there is still one obstacle to overcome.
Gazzetta Dello Sport‘s Nicolo Schira also adds that Liverpool have presented a contract offer to Werner worth €8m a season until 2025.
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