Manchester United are allegedly prepared to step up their efforts in order to acquire Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele on a free transfer next year, reports claim.

According to a report from the Catalan newspaper SPORT, Manchester United are planning a mega-contract offer for Ousmane Dembele in order to entice him away from Barcelona on a Bosman transfer in 2022, according to the publication.

Ousmane Dembele has been at Barcelona since the summer of 2017 when he joined as a replacement for Neymar, who had left the club to join Paris Saint-Germain. Although he has had a tough time in Catalonia, the Frenchman has struggled with many injuries and conditioning problems that have prevented him from reaching his full potential in the league.

The Transfer Saga That Is Getting A Lot Of Attention

Indeed, Dembele has missed almost 100 games for Barcelona throughout his tenure at the Camp Nou, while making slightly more than 100 appearances during his time there. The 24-year-old has yet to play a single minute of football this season after being sidelined during the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament in the summer, but he is set to return to action in the coming weeks.

According to the current state of affairs, it is uncertain how long Dembele will stay a member of the Barcelona squad. This season will mark the end of his contract with the Catalan giants, and he will be 24 years old. And, despite the fact that he has been in negotiations about a new contract, no agreement has yet been reached, leaving his future uncertain.

The issue has been brought to the attention of a number of prominent teams from around Europe, including Manchester United. It is no secret that the Red Devils made a serious attempt to recruit him in the summer of last year and were close to completing a loan deal until Barcelona insisted on his signing a new contract before departing, which resulted in the loan agreement not being completed and the transfer not taking place.

As a result, Manchester United have made significant additions to their offensive ranks, including the acquisitions of Amad Diallo, Jadon Sancho, and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the Red Devils have maintained a close eye on Dembele and are in discussions with his agents. And, according to the source, if the 24-year-old does not agree to a contract extension with the Catalans, they are prepared to offer him a lucrative new deal.

Where Does Ousmane Dembele’s Future Lie?

While having an abundance of alternatives at his disposal, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems to be eager on adding more talent to his offensive unit despite having an abundance of choices at his disposal currently.

It would also make sense given the fact that Jesse Lingard’s contract expires at the end of the season and Mason Greenwood’s long-term future is viewed in the centre-forward position, thus freeing up a position on the wing for another player.

Furthermore, Anthony Martial’s future at Old Trafford is in doubt as a result of his inconsistency over the last few seasons. If he were to depart at the conclusion of the season, there would be space in the squad for someone like his compatriot, Dembele, to step up into the starting lineup. A transfer will not be simple to complete, however, since the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea, as well as Juventus, are all interested in signing the player.

Barcelona, on the other hand, is eager to keep Dembele, but they are unable to give him better conditions on his contract owing to the club’s financial predicament. In spite of his recent injury problems, some believe that the 2018 FIFA World Cup champion is content in his current surroundings and will ultimately sign a new contract at Camp Nou. It now remains to be seen if the financial offer that Manchester United is planning will be sufficient to persuade him to alter his mind.