‘New’ boys on the block to battle Liverpool for French World Cup winner

Newcastle United join Liverpool in the race to sign Barcelona star Dembele

According to Spanish publication Sport (h/t Liverpool Echo), Newcastle United are the latest club to join Liverpool in the race to sign Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele.

Ever since the Magpies were taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, they have been linked with a number of players. Success will be the mantra at St James Park and there is money to splash.

Liverpool have long been linked with the French winger, however former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman had earlier confirmed that the club wanted to offer a new contract to the player.

But with Koeman sacked as a Barcelona manager, things may well change. The 24-year-old is a world-class talent on his day. However, those have come few and far in between at the Nou Camp.

The French winger is out of contract this summer and is free to talk to the clubs as soon as the transfer window opens in January. Chances of him penning an extension with Barcelona appear remote.

Dembele joined Barcelona in 2017 for £135.5m from German club Dortmund. While he has shown his stunning potential off, it has overall been underwhelming.

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Dembele is currently injured and is yet to play this season, a pattern that isn’t uncommon with him since he joined Barcelona. He has so far made 118 appearances for the Catalans, while at the same time missing 98 games thanks to injuries.

Provided he can stay fit, Dembele can emerge as a tour de force for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. The Frenchman was part of the Les Bleus side that won the FIFA World Cup in 2018.