{"id":601531,"date":"2021-09-10T08:05:35","date_gmt":"2021-09-10T12:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=601531"},"modified":"2021-09-10T08:05:35","modified_gmt":"2021-09-10T12:05:35","slug":"joan-laporta-confirms-ousmane-dembele-contract-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/09\/10\/joan-laporta-confirms-ousmane-dembele-contract-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"Joan Laporta Confirms Ousmane Dembele Contract Talks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barcelona<\/a> president, Joan Laporta has confirmed that contract talks with Ousmane Dembele are set to get underway. As quoted by Fabrizio Romano,<\/a> Laporta said: \u201cA meeting is scheduled with Ousmane Dembele agents. Relations are very good and he knows that we want him to stay at the club. He likes the #7 & has told me that he wants to play again and defend the Bar\u00e7a shirt\u201d.<\/p>\n

Joan Laporta Confirms Ousmane Dembele Contract Talks<\/h2>\n

Strange Timing<\/h3>\n

The news comes at a difficult time for Barcelona, who endured a summer to forget, losing club legend, Lionel Messi. Never has the club looked in so much financial ruin that as of right now, making the Dembele contract talks strange timing.<\/p>\n

The winger has never starred at Barcelona; plagued by injuries, yet continues to be handed opportunities. In a way, this situation highlights the club\u2019s harmful lack of ruthlessness, which is constantly coming at a high-end cost.<\/p>\n

Time and time again, they hand Dembele the chance before injury strikes. Of course, he isn\u2019t to blame for this, it is just a stroke of unfortunate luck. But, coming back to ruthlessness, Barcelona must inflict it. If they want to get back to the top, then clearing Dembele from the wage bill, alongside others, is the way forward. The fact is, they are showing no signs of a club willing to ascend the footballing ladder again.<\/p>\n

The French winger could prove doubters wrong, yes, but history tells us that\u2019s unlikely. He has the talent, the potential, yet lacks the consistent fitness. When handing out contracts, Barcelona must asking themselves, will this player spearhead a rebuild? And if the answer is no, then the contract shouldn\u2019t be on the table, especially with the money that the Catalan club often pay.<\/p>\n

It would be of everyone\u2019s interest to see Ousmane Dembele come good. Whether he will, is another question, however.<\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>