“They are very important players”: Club president pours cold water on Liverpool target’s exit rumours

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted that Liverpool target Ousmane Dembele will be even better next season after a tough start to his career at the Nou Camp.

The La Liga champions signed the French forward from Borussia Dortmund at the start of last season after Neymar left to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Dembele was bought for a fee of £135.5million but struggled with injury and only scored 4 goals for the La Liga side in all competitions.

However, Bartomeu believes that the first season for players at Barca is always difficult and that we could see Dembele at a higher level next season.

The president was quoted by the Metro and even gave the example of Philippe Coutinho joining Barca from Liverpool in the winter window.

“They are very important players and we expect a lot from them. Coutinho probably in the last four months has been very active for the team.

“But Dembele is a very young player, a very talented player that we are, of course, expecting a lot from. He’s been demonstrating during the season that he’s a good young player for us.

“But, of course, next season will be different. It’s not easy to play in Barcelona the first year because the model of football is quite different from the rest.

“But after one year I’m sure we are going to see Dembele and Coutinho at a very high level.”

The Frenchman did have a major impact in the recent 3-1 win over Italy where he scored a goal and was even adjudged the man-of-the-match.

Dembele has been heavily linked with a move to the Reds and the report also claimed that Jurgen Klopp was looking to speak to the player’s mother in hopes of bringing him over to Anfield.

This might come as a big blow to the Reds who are looking to add more firepower to the side ahead of another big campaign where we look to win trophies under the manager.

Barcelona might not be willing to sell their big investment anytime soon and that would mean we have to either pay a huge price for the French forward or think about signing some other players.