Manchester United consider Ousmane Dembele

Manchester United are reportedly in talks with Barcelona for winger Ousmane Dembele.

The 23-year-old French international is believed to have spoken to United’s midfielder Paul Pogba about linking up at Old Trafford, and after initially being reluctant to make the switch, he has opened up to the idea.

Dembele arrived for around 105 million euros with another 40 million euros depending on performances when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund to replace Neymar.

However he has struggled for form and fitness, and suffered a serious hamstring injury last season. There has been criticism of his diet from other players and he has a poor disciplinary reputation.

As a result, Barcelona are keen to sell him and would take around half the initial fee they paid for him if they get an offer from Manchester United. They want to replace him with former United wideman Memphis Depay, who is in his last year of his Lyon contract.

United, though, are reluctant to splash out Dembele with the associated concerns over his fitness and discipline, and they would prefer to take him on loan for the season, which appears a reasonable course of action with the risks involved in a big-money transfer.

The club are in a frantic period as the Premier League international transfer window comes to an end tonight. They are expected to sign Alex Telles from Porto, and free agent Edinson Cavani, who left Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

They have also been linked with Penarol teenager Facundo Pellistri, and Amad Traore is set to join at some point over the next 10 months for a fee that could cost around 40 million euros.

Another potential target is Ismaila Sarr, who could join after tonight though that would rule him out of the first half of the Champions League season. Watford have refused the first offer of a loan from the club.