Ronald Koeman has provided an update on the Ousmane Dembélé contract situation.
The French winger is out of contract this summer and it has been reported for some time that the Blaugrana will look to offer him a new deal.
That new deal is likely to be on reduced terms given the winger has not lived up to his more than €100million price tag from back in 2017.
Currently, Barca are at risk of losing Dembélé for free next summer, while the Frenchman is also free to agree a pre-contract agreement ahead of the summer from January 1.
But as Koeman has confirmed, barca are keen to tie the winger down to a new deal before that point.
“What’s most important is that we want him to stay,” said the Dutchman in his latest press conference. “It’s important and he has quality.
“The objective is to renew. Another thing is, if he doesn’t want to renew, we have to speak as a club what the best way forward is.
“Still, we have not spoken of what our strategy will be if he doesn’t renew.”
Dembélé is currently out injured having had an operation on a serious injury during the summer.
The Frenchman is yet to play this season, but he is understood to be close to a return with his first appearance of the season expected to come within the coming weeks.
