Ousmane Dembele: Manchester United considering loan for Barcelona forward if Jadon Sancho transfer fails

Dembélé is one of several alternatives United have explored if Sancho bid fails

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Wednesday 30 September 2020 14:49 BST
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Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembélé
Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembélé (Getty Images)

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Manchester United are considering a loan move for Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembélé as an alternative to first-choice transfer target Jadon Sancho.

United remain determined to sign Sancho before Monday’s transfer deadline after months of negotiations but are yet to meet Borussia Dortmund’s €120m (£109.6m) asking price.

A right winger has been Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s priority over the course of the summer and alternatives to Sancho have been monitored throughout, including Barcelona’s Dembélé.

The 23-year-old has struggled to establish himself at the Camp Nou since joining from Dortmund for an initial €105m rising to €147m in 2017, having struggled with persistent injury problems. Dembélé made just nine appearances last season.

United’s interest in Dembélé cooled following Ronald Koeman’s appointment as Barcelona head coach, though reports in Spain suggest that the France international could now depart leave in order to finance a move for Memphis Depay.

However, the Old Trafford club are only thought to be interested in a temporary move for Dembele and only as one of several alternatives if talks for Sancho collapse.  

Personal terms and an agent's fee are no longer thought to be an obstacle in negotiations for Sancho though Dortmund's refusal to lower their asking price means any deal is far from complete.

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