Manchester United make ‘firm proposal’ to sign wantaway Barcelona star

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Barcelona contract rebel Ousmane Dembele.

According to a fresh update from Spanish outlet Sport, via Sport Witness, the Red Devils are among the clubs who are keen to offer the winger a way out of Camp Nou as uncertainty continues to reign over his ongoing situation in Catalonia.

The 24-year-old had been offered a new deal by his current employers, with a New Year’s Eve deadline on his decision widely reported.

Seemingly, Dembele has not put pen to paper on that contract extension, and now looks set to leave Barcelona at some point in the near future.

That’s where United come in, as well as Italian giants Juventus, who are both said to be interested in becoming the player’s next destination.

In United’s case specifically, it is claimed that Old Trafford chiefs have been in contact with the wide man’s agent ‘for months’, and have already sent a ‘firm proposal’ for his signing.

How likely are United to seal the deal?

Dembele’s potential exit feels like an increasing inevitability, but that’s not to say that United are nailed on to sign him.

A number of high-profile European clubs have been linked with the winger in recent weeks, and any pursuit for his services is likely to be a hotly-contested one.

There are other factors too. For one thing, Sport report that the Frenchman is demanding a salary of £25.2 million, plus a signing-on fee of roughly the same amount.

That’s a huge fee to fork out in a January window, especially for a player who would surely be deemed a luxury acquisition.

In terms of United’s priorities in the coming weeks, there are other positions - chiefly the centre of midfield - that need strengthening, and whether the club could justify bringing in another attacker instead remains to be seen.

What are the bookies saying?

Dembele is certainly attracting a lot of attention from bookmakers at the moment, but few seem to be giving Man United much of a chance of signing him.

At the time of writing, Newcastle United are the clear favourites with SkyBet to land the winger at odds of 9/2.

Behind them, Liverpool are priced at 8/1, while Arsenal and Juventus trail the two frontrunners at lengthy odds of 16/1.

What are the fans saying?

It’s safe to say that most United fans aren’t overly thrilled about the prospect of their club signing Dembele.

@flowerboiu tweeted: “Why pay him 100 grand a week if he’s gonna sit 49 of 52 out injured?”

@fredisthegoat92 tweeted: “Why can’t we focus on the positions we need to improve on for once? How many attackers does this club want?”

@Duncan_65 tweeted: “Why? Are Rashford, Greenwood, Amad, Sancho, Ronaldo, not enough. I think we have other priorities like 2 midfielders”

@slyashind tweeted: “Please let him go to Newcastle. We don’t need another signing like that at all”.