Arsenal Trying To Trump Man Utd With £88.9m Offer To Sign French Star

There is plenty of Manchester United and Arsenal gossip doing the rounds in the papers with the English giants linked with a whole host of star names ahead of deadline day. Today, the latest on the chase to sign Ousmane Dembele…

Arsenal are looking to beat Manchester United to the signing of Ousmane Dembele by offering to sign the Barcelona attacker on an initial loan with a view to buy next summer, according to reports in Spain via the Sun.

Dembele was one of the most exciting young players in world football when he joined Barca from Borussia Dortmund last summer in a deal that could reach around £140m including add-ons but he’s endured a disappointing first year at the Nou Camp.

The 21-year-old missed much of last season with a serious hamstring injury and struggled to force his way back in to Ernesto Valverde’s first team plans having made just 6 La Liga starts and Dembele could find himself even further down the pecking order following the arrival of Malcom this summer.

It’s led to speculation that the French World Cup winner could be on the move and the Mirror claims that Barcelona are ready to cut their losses and cash-in on Dembele if an offer worth around £89m is put on the table.

The situation has alerted clubs here in the Premier League as the Mirror are citing a report from Mundo Deportivo that claims Man Utd have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Dembele this summer.

Jose Mourinho is on the look out for another top class attacker as Anthony Martial is trying to force a move away from Old Trafford after falling out of favour and the report says Man Utd have identified Dembele as a possible replacement.

However, Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for the youngster in recent months and Unai Emery has made Dembele his prime target as he looks to add to his attacking options but the Gunners can’t afford to pay £89m this summer having already spent £70m on five new recruits.

But the Spanish publication says Arsenal have a solution in mind as they’ve offered to pay £8.9m to take Dembele on a season-long loan with a view to paying the remaining £80m next summer to make the deal permanent.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

Dembele recently fuelled speculation over a move to Arsenal after being photographed in London alongside the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and he could be reunited with his former Dortmund team mates this summer.

It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will accept Arsenal’s proposal or if Man Utd will step-up their interest with a rival bid but Dembele would be a superb addition if either club could get a deal agreed before Thursday’s deadline.