Arsenal hopes of signing Ousmane Dembele suffer serious blow after agent offers fresh update on striker’s Barcelona future
The forward's agent has insisted that his future is in Spain at a 'big club' despite his recent actions
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ARSENAL's hopes of landing Ousmane Dembele have shrunk after his agent made it clear that his future was in Spain at a 'big club'.
The out-of-favour forward angered the powers that be at Barcelona by going AWOL last week, but Dembele is planning on proving his commitment to the La Liga giants, rather than jumping ship.
The World Cup winner was dropped for Barcelona's home game against Real Betis, but the shock defeat could well provide the 21-year-old with an opportunity to prove he is a key member of the squad.
Dembele's agent, Moussa Sissoko, has downplayed rumours that he will be leaving the Nou Camp and insisted that he will prove himself to Barca.
Speaking to RMC Sport, he said: "There is no doubt about his future, at all, Ousmane continues to work, he is in a big club and Ernesto Valverde loves him, and he is also in the national team and Deschamps continues to trust him."
Dembele has spent extended periods on the sideline for Barcelona, but Gerard Pique jumped to the French star's defence when he missed training last week.
The defender said: "He's young and got a lot of potential and I'm sure that Valverde has only left him out to work on other areas of his game.
"We've all been young and made errors, so from our experience we've got to help him realise that football is a 24 hour a day game- you've got to live and breathe it."
His agent went to similar lengths to defend the star's actions and insisted that he was sick the night before Barcelona hosted Real Betis, hence his absence.
Sissoko said: "It is true that Ousmane was sick before the game. He had not slept all night, he was very tired.
"He missed the morning training and what the club has blamed on us is that he did not warn a little before the doctor saw him at home- he did it a little late."
Dembele has struggled to live up to expectations at the Nou Camp, following his sensational switch from Borussia Dortmund last summer and Valverde has been vocal about his concerns about the 21-year-old's temper on the pitch.
As a result, Arsenal and Liverpool have been monitoring the situation carefully.
But they will have suffered a knock back with Dembele's agent's latest comments.
The forward started the season well, with three goals in his first four league games, but he now faces a big fight to get back into the first-team if his future is in Spain.
