Report: Liverpool battling Pochettino for Barcelona speed machine

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Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo have reported that Liverpool remain in the hunt to sign Barcelona speedster Ousmane Dembele ahead of the summer window – but the Reds face competition from the likes of Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG.

Dembele, 23, remains on the firing list at Barcelona and is set to enter the last 12 months of his contract at the Nou Camp this summer. Barcelona are in a difficult position – get him to renew his deal, or sell him this summer in order to get a fee.

The France international and World Cup winner, who cost Barcelona £90million in the summer of 2017, has had a difficult time at Barca. Plenty of injuries have limited him to just 110 appearances, but he is slowly getting back to his best.

Still only 23, Dembele has already clocked up 189 games at senior level – as well as 23 caps for France. He has scored 10 goals in 36 outings this season and Liverpool are said to be keen – with Jurgen Klopp described as Dembele’s ‘perfect connoisseur’.

However, the report states that Liverpool face plenty of competition in the race for Dembele’s signature. Manchester United and Juventus are said to have contacted his agent, while Pochettino wants to bring him back to France – to PSG.

TBR’s view – Dembele would be a top Liverpool addition

Getting back to his best, Dembele is still only 23 and has shown he can cut it at international level – and in Spain, France and Germany. For a young player, he is very adaptable and that should convince Liverpool he could shine in England.

Can Liverpool afford him? He would certainly be an expensive buy, and is not worth the figure Barcelona paid. But given he is still young, and would offer Liverpool a long-term replacement for the likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, he should be targeted.