OUSMANE DEMBELE is eager to join Chelsea's revolution — but not from the sidelines. Ousmane Dembele wants assurances over being a starter at Chelsea if he is to join
Ousmane Dembele is set to join Chelsea – but the Barcelona star does not want to be a substitute and wants guarantees that he will start.
Thomas Tuchel wants the Barcelona forward, 25, to replace misfit Romelu Lukaku, who is moving closer to a move to Inter Milan.
Dembele is hell-bent on winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
But he wants Tuchel to guarantee that he will be a regular starter for Chelsea and will not be subjected to severe squad rotation.
Dembele only played 90 minutes nine times last season, but he still managed 13 assists, the most in LaLiga.
The 27-cap France international has grown dissatisfied at the Nou Camp, having started only 41% of games in the last three seasons.
He was a "wild talent" for Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund, according to the coach.
Dembele's outstanding showing in Germany won him a £138 million transfer to Barcelona, with £97 million paid up front.
Inter Milan's offer of an £8 million loan fee to get Lukaku back has been rebuffed, just 12 months after he moved to England for a stunning £97 million sum.
Chelsea wants more than double that to help bankroll their search for a replacement, but they're considering letting Lukaku go.
Even while he is not a like-for-like replacement for Lukaku — a typical No 9 — Dembele is a target.
Chelsea's head coach has shown versatility in his front line approach, using Kai Havertz as a 'false nine' in the middle of a front three.
Lukaku is willing to forego his £325,000-a-week salary in order to return to Italy and find happiness.
However, Inter are seeking to earn additional funds by selling right-back Denzel Dumfries and center-back Milan Skriniar, with Chelsea interested in both.
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