Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly prepared to offer Juan Bernat as a makeweight in a deal for out-of-favour winger Ousmane Dembele -- but Barcelona are demanding a different player.
Barcelona are keen to offload Dembele in the January transfer window ahead of his contract expiring at the end of the season.
The Spanish club have valued the 24-year-old Frenchman at £18m, with Barcelona manager Xavi prepared to axe Dembele from his plans.
Dembele, who is earning £210,000-a-week wages at Barcelona, has been informed by sporting director Mateu Alemany that the La Liga side want to sell him.
According to Football Espana, PSG are ready to make a ‘part exchange offer’ on deadline day that would see Bernat head to the Camp Nou.
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The Ligue 1 club have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Dembele ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea.
However, it is believed that PSG want to use Bernat as a way to bring down Barcelona’s hefty valuation for the France winger.
Bernat is not PSG’s first-choice left-back under Mauricio Pochettino and Xavi could be interested in signing the player to add much-needed cover for Jordi Alba.
Diario AS reports that PSG striker Mauro Icardi has also been considered as a potential makeweight for the Dembele deal.
Barcelona have no interest in Icardi and have ‘requested’ for PSG star Angel Di Maria to be included in their offer for Dembele.
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Di Maria, who spent four seasons at Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid, has been at PSG since 2015 after his flop spell at Manchester United.
The 33-year-old Argentine winger is out of contract in the summer, but PSG have the option to renew his current deal by another year.
Dembele’s arrival at the Parc des Princes would see Di Maria fall down the PSG pecking order, according to reports.
Barcelona face a tough test in convincing Di Maria to arrive at the Camp Nou, considering his history with Madrid and ambitions to win the Champions League.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1, France, Barcelona, Spain, La Liga, Football, Ousmane Dembele, Angel Di Maria
Adnan Riaz