How Barcelona could replace Ousmane Dembele after being crocked for four months with hamstring injury
Catalan giants spent a staggering £135m for the winger who was seen as a replacement for Neymar. But boss Ernesto Valverde will need to find a new solution and could call upon Everton flop Gerard Deulofeu
BARCELONA smashed their club transfer record to sign prodigious French winger Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
The Catalan giants forked out an initial £97million which could rise to as much as £135.5m if conditional add-ons are triggered.
But the Catalan giants have been shaken by the news they will be without the man they signed to replace Neymar after the former Rennes youngster suffered a torn hamstring in the club’s 2-1 win over Getafe at the weekend.
The injury, which requires surgery to repair, is expected to keep Dembele out for up to four months.
Our friends at Football Whispers have taken a look at what Barcelona can do to fill the void the 20-year-old leaves in their line-up.
Less than half an hour had elapsed in Barca’s trip to the outskirts of Madrid to take on Getafe when new star Dembele pulled up in the familiar way that signals a hamstring complaint.
The France international left the field to be replaced by former Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu, and 10 minutes later the Blaugrana went 1-0 down thanks to a wonder-strike by Japanese midfielder Gaku Shibasaki.
Ernesto Valverde’s men struggled to recapture the rhythm and slickness that defined their initial performances of the new campaign in dismantling Juventus in the Champions League and tearing through Espanyol in the Catalan derby.
Latest Barcelona news
Barca huffed and puffed, eventually scraping a 2-1 win, maintaining their 100 per cent start to the season thanks to a Denis Suarez equaliser and a late winner from former Tottenham flop Paulinho.
In truth, still adjusting to life at his new club and having missed the start of Dortmund’s season by going on strike to force his big-money move, Dembele had not yet reached full sharpness in the Barca side, and was still working to develop an understanding with attacking cohorts Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
But, nonetheless, he will be sorely missed. The Frenchman was brought in with the aim of filling Neymar’s boots after the Brazilian superstar’s shock £198million switch to Paris Saint-Germain.
Although Dembele is not quite at the same level as the man he is replacing, his potential is sky high and his mesmerising creative skills will be missed by Barca.
Barcelona’s squad may not be as deep and fearsome as it has been in the past, and they do not have a player of Dembele’s quality to come in and deputise.
But they do, however, have some solid back-up options who will all be hungry to stake a claim for regular inclusion.
Deulofeu is at the front of the queue to replace his injured team-mate. The Spain international started the season on the right flank while Barca were still scrambling to finalise a deal for Dembele, and he performed well in the role.
He is not as flashy as the Frenchman, not nearly as gifted a dribbler, but the 23-year-old works hard and offers good balance.
Denis Suarez will also be in contention. Although he is more comfortable in a deeper, more central role, the young playmaker has experience out wide from his time at Villarreal and the former Manchester City youngster is fast, strong and dribbles well.
His crucial goal against Getafe last weekend will have strengthened his case for stepping up in Dembele’s absence.
Despite being strongly linked with a return to Galatasaray over the summer, Arda Turan remains a Barcelona player.
The Turkish international was one of former manager Luis Enrique’s go-to options if a member of the “MSN” front three was unavailable last term. He is yet to make an appearance in La Liga under Valverde, though, and may lack match fitness.
Dembele’s injury is disappointing for Barca, checking the new man’s progress. But Deulofeu offers a solid stop-gap option.
