Chelsea Express Concern Over Ousmane Dembele Transfer Amid Raheem Sterling Interest

Chelsea have doubts over the signing of Ousmane Dembele on a free transfer this summer, according to reports.

The 25-year-old could be available on a free transfer next month due to his Barcelona contract expiring at the end of June.

Dembele has yet to agree a new deal despite Barcelona putting a proposal on the table, and with less than two weeks left of the month, a departure is now looking increasingly likely.

Ousmane Dembele features for Barcelona against Napoli in the Europa League. (Alamy)

He was quizzed on his future earlier this week and responded to fans’ questions, telling supporters he is ‘fine in Barcelona’ amid transfer links to Chelsea.

It has been suggested by claims in England that Dembele is ‘ready to join’ Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel, but only if he is given assurances about a starting role in west London.

Raheem Sterling on the ball for Manchester City against Newcastle United. (Alamy)

Chelsea are reported to be confident of landing Sterling this summer, with a fee of £35 million being touted. However, Sky Sports claim Manchester City would demand a price of around £60 million if they were to part ways with the England international.

Whether Chelsea would choose between signing Dembele or Sterling remains unclear, however according to reports in Italy and Nathan Gissing, Tuchel’s side have expressed some concerns over Dembele.

They have doubts over his recent injury record. He was injured for the first four months of the 2021/22 campaign with a knee injury.

He featured in 15 of Barcelona’s last 16 league games of the season, scoring once and registering 11 assists.

Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona during the Spanish championship La Liga football match. (Alamy)

It’s suggested that as a result, the ‘current feeling’ around the club is that Sterling is more of a target for the Blues. However, the interest in Dembele is ‘still active’.

Chelsea were linked with Dembele back in January and a reunion with Thomas Tuchel – his boss at Borussia Dortmund.

Earlier this year, Tuchel discussed the Frenchman and was full of praise for him:  “He is a very good player when he is in his top level. I am very fortunate to have trained him in my time at Dortmund. 

“It was only one year, it should have been longer. I needed to leave and he decided to leave.”

Nothing concrete has happened yet, but as the season gets closer to getting underway, transfer developments are extremely likely in west London.