Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Barcelona transfer news: Liverpool and Arsenal dealt major Ousmane Dembele blow
BARCELONA star Ousmane Dembele will not be leaving the club this summer, according to president Josep Bartomeu.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with a move for the Frenchman in recent weeks, as speculation continues to surround his future in Spain.
Dembele endured a turbulent first season at the Nou Camp after leaving Borussia Dortmund last summer.
The youngster suffered a serious hamstring injury during his first weeks at Barcelona, and struggled to regain his place in Ernesto Valverde's first team in the second half of the season.
However, Bartomeu insists Dembele is a player Barcelona want to keep hold of.
"[Philippe] Coutinho, [Ousmane] Dembele are for us a big investment," he told the Associated Press.
But Dembele is a very young player, a very talented player that we are, of course, expecting a lot from
"They are very important players and we expect a lot from them.
"But Dembele is a very young player, a very talented player that we are, of course, expecting a lot from.
"He's been demonstrating during the season that he's a good young player for us. But, of course, next season will be different.
"It's not easy to play in Barcelona the first year because the model of football is quite different from the rest.
Klopp says he's interested in signing Ousmane Dembele
"But after one year I'm sure we are going to see Dembele and Coutinho at a very high level."
Jurgen Klopp is reportedly desperate to sign Dembele this summer, and is thought to have spoke to the star's mother in a bid to push through a move to Anfield.
Dembele has been included in Didier Deschamps' French World Cup squad this summer.