Juventus Are Interested In Signing Ousmane Dembele From FC Barcelona, Claims Report
by Tom Sanderson
Juventus are interested in signing Ousmane Dembele from FC Barcelona, claims a report published in Catalonia on Monday morning.
Not content with merely attempting to unsettle to Brazilian midfielder Arthur, who has become part of a potential swap deal for Miralem Pjanic, the Old Lady also has Dembele on its radar ahead of the 2020/2021 season.
According to Cristina Cubero at Mundo Deportivo, it is in the swoop for the Bosnian that Dembele could end up at the Allianz Arena too. Portuguese right back Nelson Semedo also a target, Dembele “remains an attractive player for the big clubs”, despite injurie and “due to his physical and technical qualities”.
Essentially a new signing for coach Quique Setien, once La Liga resumes on the week that commences June 8, it is hoped that the World Cup winner will give Barca a boost in their defence of the top flight title and in the Champions League.
After that however, as the Blaugrana attempt to land names such as Neymar, Lautaro Martinez and, as mentioned, Pjanic, Dembele could be placed on the market and have his thus far mixed bag of a tenure at the Camp Nou brought to a halt.
Mindful of his history on the operating table, Juventus, Cubero writes, have insisted on taking Dembele out on loan first to test the waters. In a trial year in Serie A, the Turin giants could measure the quality of his performances, fitness and also obtain him for a cheaper price with a right-to-buy-clause than purchasing the 23-year-old outright in the summer.
In Italy, there would be little competition from Juve’s current widemen such as the aging Juan Cuadrado and Federico Bernardeschi - who has often been linked to a part exchange deal involving Ivan Rakitic in past windows. Arthur’s compatriot Douglas Costa is world class when available, but like Dembele spends more time on the sidelines recovering from his latest knock than featuring in Maurizio Sarri’s plans.
Elsewhere in the local papers, it is alleged that Arsenal and PSG also have eyes for Dembele, with the latter mentioned club looking to “Frenchify” their ranks.