Speculation has erupted across European sports media regarding the potential departure of 29-year-old French forward Ousmane Dembele from PSG amid reports of friction with manager Luis Enrique. The chatter was sparked by information from RMC Sport about Dembele taking an unplanned break, with the Ballon d'Or winner set to return to training only on Monday.
Liverpool are reportedly in active discussions to sign another PSG winger, Bradley Barcola, for a hefty fee rumoured to range between £125 million and £145 million. In light of this, certain sources are linking Liverpool with an interest in Dembele. Reports have emerged that Dembele was dissatisfied with being substituted early during the 2-2 draw against Rennes and missing out on a starting spot for the UEFA Super Cup clash against Aston Villa, despite having cut short his holiday following the World Cup to prepare.
However, the likelihood of a transfer for Dembele to Anfield seems quite low:
- Sky-high price tag and contract: Dembele is under contract with PSG until 2028, earning a staggering €524,000 per week, including bonuses. If PSG's valuation for Barcola is at £145 million, they would likely demand no less than £200 million for their key star and Ballon d'Or recipient.
- Injury concerns and physical demands: Last season in Ligue 1, Dembele featured for only 1,063 minutes due to carefully managed workloads to preserve his fitness for their victorious Champions League campaign. Such a gentler schedule may not translate well to the high-intensity demands of the Premier League and manager Andoni Iraola's playing style.
- PSG's stance: The time off granted to Dembele is part of an organised strategy to manage fitness levels ahead of a busy season, rather than an indication of deep-seated conflict with Luis Enrique.
