Dembele deal done say media but Watzke will not confirm

German media are reporting that Borussia Dortmund winger Ousmane Dembele will sign for Barcelona in the second most expensive football transfer ever.

A fee of 120 million euros ($142 million dollars), possibly rising to 150 million euros, has been agreed for the 20-year-old France player according to various outlets, although Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke was at pains to play down any imminent announcement.

“We are not the club to announce it. But there is no fixed deal,” he told Sky Sport at the Champions League draw in Monaco. 

Reports said the Dortmund contingent at the draw had held talks with Barcelona’s hierarchy, who were also present. Dembele looks poised to pen a five-year deal at the Nou Camp.

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Dortmund-imposed deadline

One way or the other though, the issue should be decided by Sunday, which Dortmund have set as a deadline for Barcelona to meet their demands.

“If it does not happen by Sunday then the transfer is off the table,” Watzke said recently. “They (Barcelona) know very well what we want. They can say if they want him or not. There are only two options.”

Barca had already made a previous offer, but Watzke has said it didn’t come close to what Dortmund are after. He also put the chance of a deal being completed at “under 50 percent” when speaking to German broadcaster Sky last weekend.

Ousmane Dembele has not trained with Dortmund since mid-August

For his part, Dembele, who moved to the Bundesliga from Stade Rennes for a reported 15 million euros a year ago, has been suspended by his club after he failed to turn up to training a couple of weeks ago as he looked to force through the Barca move.

Since then, Dortmund have won their only Bundesliga game, cruising past Wolfsburg 3-0. 

Left off France squad

Meanwhile, France coach Didier Deschamps has left Dembele (7 caps, 1 goal) out of his squad for the upcoming international break. In his press conference to announce the squad, Deschamps said that nominating a player who had not trained with his team for the past 15 days was simply out of the question. 

Barcelona are desperate for attacking reinforcements after selling Neymar to Paris St Germain for a world record 222 million euros earlier this month. They have also been in talks to buy Liverpool’s Coutinho.

Article source: http://www.dw.com/en/dembele-deal-done-say-media-but-watzke-will-not-confirm/a-40221005?maca=en-rss-en-sports-1027-xml-atom