Barcelona have re-opened talks with Ousmane Dembele about a new contract despite negotiations previously breaking down.
According to Sky Sports, the Catalan giants initiated talks with the 24-year-old’s representatives Moussa Sissoko and Marco Lichtsteiner on Tuesday.
Dembele’s team have agreed to listen to Barcelona’s proposals with talks expected to be held in the coming weeks.
It was only two months ago that Barcelona were trying to move their number seven on in cut-price deal after talks regarding a new contract failed to reach a resolution.
Dembele wasn’t willing to take a significant pay-cut and it looked like the World Cup winner was set to walk away on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of June.
Ousmane Dembele update a blow for Newcastle
Despite being greeted with boos at the Nou Camp, Dembele’s performances on the pitch have justified Xavi’s decision to stick by the former Borussia Dortmund man despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
Currently injury free and sparkling alongside his former Dortmund teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dembele is in electric form.
The French international has the best assists-per-minute ratio in Europe’s top-five leagues this season, the most assists in Europe since the turn of the year, and the second-most in La Liga all season.
His performances on the pitch have left Barcelona with little choice but to re-approach him and representatives about extending his stay at the La Liga giants, who look on track to qualify for the Champions League next season.
With just three months left to run on his contract, interest in the pacey and talented winger was starting to crank up.
AS recently claimed that Dembele had agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain, despite interest from Tottenham and Newcastle.
Newcastle have been linked with a blockbuster move for Dembele ever since PIF took over from Mike Ashley in October.
Just because Dembele and his team are willing to talk with Barcelona once again doesn’t mean an agreement will be reached, but it is a step in the right direction.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta will be hoping Ousmane Dembele who was signed for £135.5m puts pen to paper with a new deal, but with negotiations likely to drag out, the likes of Newcastle will be monitoring closely to see if there is yet another breakdown which could prove to be the final straw.