Exclusive: Rennes' Ousmane Dembele emerges as Barça's No.1 transfer target

Exclusive: Rennes' Ousmane Dembele emerges as Barça's No.1 transfer target

Rennes’ Ousmane Dembele has become Barcelona’s primary transfer target. The player’s impressive progression in recent months has led to Barça getting to work on a deal, to make sure they see off the competition of the other European clubs who are interested in the young star of French football. 

Sporting director Robert Fernandez, who along with Urbano Ortega was watching Dembele this past weekend, wants to open talks as soon as possible with Rennes to seal a deal this coming summer. 

He’s a player Barça have been following for two years. However, his progression this season led to Fernandez and Ortega witnessing his hat-trick against Nantes this weekend. 

The Catalan side have changed their initial strategy given the player’s rapid rise. At first, the idea was to sign Dembele, have him with the first team for pre-season and then loan him to another club - as has been the case with Alen Halilovic and Denis Suarez. 

However, seeing how he’s developed, the idea is for him to slot straight into the first team. 

Talks will move quickly, Barça hope, as they want to tie up a deal as soon as possible. There are other clubs interested, like Liverpool, Manchester City, Chesea and Atletico Madrid, which is why Barcelona are keen to press the issue. The cost could be around 10 million euros. 

Dembele himself has admitted his excitement at the possibility of playing for FC Barcelona.