Chelsea are ready to strike a pre-contract agreement with Ousmane Dembele after failing in a deadline day swoop for the Frenchman’s services.
Thomas Tuchel’s west Londoners were keen on making a move for Dembele in the final stages of the January transfer window but efforts on Monday’s deadline day did not realise owing to lack of time and concerns on the pricing front.
According to reports from Sky Sports, Chelsea will continue to keep tabs on the FC Barcelona contract rebel with the winger set to enter into free agency come the summer following his refusal to renew terms at Camp Nou.
The Blues could be interested in signing a pre-contract with the former Dortmund star ahead of a move to the English capital in the summer with Tuchel on the hunt for much-needed firepower to his attacking ranks.
Barcelona executives are resigned to losing Dembele and had been open to his sale in the mid-year window only for a transfer to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain failing to materialise for the 24-year-old forward.
