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Barcelona transfer news: Lionel Messi revelation as manager battles to keep team-mate
LIONEL MESSI could be the key to Barcelona retaining Ousmane Dembele this summer, according to reports.
Ousmane Dembele: A day in the life of the Barcelona star
Barcelona striker Dembele has not even been at the club for 12 months but the frontman could be shipped out before Spain’s August 31 transfer deadline.
Dembele endured a mixed first season at the Nou Camp following his £138m arrival from Borussia Dortmund, scoring just three goals.
The France international, 21, suffered a serious hamstring injury that hampered his early days in Spain.
Now back fit and ready for the new season, Dembele will be hoping to impress manager Ernesto Valverde from the off.
And he may well have to hit the ground running alongside Lionel Messi if he is to remain at the club.
That is according to Spanish newspaper Marca, who claim there is a still a chance of Dembele leaving Barcelona this summer.
PSG would be the most likely destination for Dembele were he to leave on a permanent deal.
But a loan move could also be an option, with Arsenal linked before the Premier League’s transfer window closed two weeks ago.
Dembele has competition for games this season with Bordeaux winger Malcom arriving at the Nou Camp.
So far the ex-Borussia Dortmund star has kept Malcom out of the starting XI. But Marca claim it is Messi’s burgeoning relationship with Dembele that is the key to the player remaining in Catalonia.
According to the report, Messi is ‘developing a stronger chemistry with the enigmatic winger’ and that is key to Dembele’s future.
Messi, 31, remains Barcelona’s superstar forward and took on even further responsibility at the club last term after Neymar was sold to PSG.
Arsenal: Failure to sign Ousmane Dembele is a 'negative' says fan
Dembele was meant to be the direct replacement for Neymar and line up last term in a three-man attack alongside Messi and Luis Suarez.
But his injury meant Messi and Suarez were forced to carry much of the attacking load as Barca steamrollered to the La Liga title.
Valverde started Dembele on the left wing in a 4-4-2 formation as Barca beat Alaves in their opening league game of the season last weekend.
However, he was played on the left of a three in a 4-3-3 system during the 2-1 Spanish Super Cup triumph over Sevilla, highlighting Valverde’s willingness to switch things around and accommodate Dembele where possible.