Transfer Centre

PSG to move for Ousmane Dembele if Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe leave?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 December 2022

PSG to move for Dembele if Messi, Mbappe leave?

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly ready to reignite their interest in Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele if Kylian Mbappe or Lionel Messi leave the club next year.

Paris Saint-Germain could reportedly reignite their interest in Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele if Kylian Mbappe or Lionel Messi leave the club next year.

The France international briefly became a free agent in the summer when his Camp Nou deal ran out, and he was widely expected to end his spell in Catalonia.

PSG were strongly linked with a swoop for Dembele during January and the summer window, but Barcelona managed to agree a new two-year deal with the attacker.

However, Dembele is about to enter the final 18 months of his current contract with Barcelona, and it remains to be seen if they will attempt to tie him down for longer amid their financial difficulties.

Should the 25-year-old fail to agree fresh terms, Barcelona could come under pressure to sell for a cut-price free next summer lest they risk their €140m (£120.4m) man leaving on a free transfer.

Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele pictured on September 7, 2022 © Reuters

According to El Nacional, PSG are ready to make another move for Dembele, who possesses a release clause of just €50m (£43m) in his Barcelona contract.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was reportedly determined to bring Dembele to the Parc des Princes over the summer, but sporting director Luis Campos vetoed a move for the former Borussia Dortmund youngster.

Now, Campos allegedly regrets his decision not to green light a move for Dembele due to his impressive exploits for club and country this season, and PSG would be able to offer a much more lucrative deal than Barcelona.

Dembele is also said to be 'seduced' by the idea of returning to his homeland, and while Xavi is keen for the attacker to stay put, Barca president Joan Laporta is not planning to discuss a possible renewal until the end of the campaign.

The Frenchman spent six years at Rennes before signing for Dortmund in 2016, and he has enjoyed a strong start to the season with Barcelona, scoring five goals and providing seven assists in 20 matches.

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates their third goal on December 13, 2022 © Reuters

Dembele has also been a regular starter for France at the World Cup, coming up with two assists in five games to help the reigning champions reach the semi-finals.

The 25-year-old is expected to start in Wednesday's semi-final with Morocco, and he could potentially arrive at PSG as a replacement for Messi or Mbappe, whose futures are both shrouded in uncertainty.

Messi is out of contract at the Parc des Princes at the end of the season, but Al-Khelaifi has confirmed that the club will sit down to discuss a new contract with the 35-year-old after the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Mbappe committed his future to the French champions until 2025 back in May, but the 23-year-old allegedly now feels that his new contract was a mistake and wants to leave.

Real Madrid pursued Mbappe for several months before he penned fresh terms at PSG, but Los Blancos are still said to be interested in the attacker, and Campos has refused to rule out the possibility of an exit for the France international.