Barcelona manager, Xavier Hernández has reportedly pleaded with the club’s board to make a last-ditch offer to keep forward Ousmane Dembele amid interest from Chelsea, Newspremises reports.
Dembele who will be out of contract by the end of June, is yet sign a new deal with Spanish giants.
The 25-year-old striker and Barcelona have so far failed to agree to an extension.
The France World Cup winner has been heavily linked with a move a move to England which will see him reunite with his former manager Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea this summer.
The former Dortmund star earned Xavi’s trust in the second half of last season, becoming a regular player in the Barcelona team despite his injury problems.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Xavi has urged his board to meet Dembele’s wage demands in order to keep him at the Camp Nou and away from Chelsea.
Signing Dembele on a free would be a significant coup for Chelsea, given the winger cost Barcelona an initial £111m just six years ago.