Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has said Ousmane Dembele is no longer a guaranteed starter in his team due to the emergence of Ansu Fati but said it was up to the French winger to decide whether or not he wishes to stay or move away from the Camp Nou.
Dembele was linked with a move to Manchester United among other clubs Wednesday, with the transfer window shutting on Oct. 5.
The French forward signed for Barca for 105m euros ($122.92m) plus variables in 2017 but has been limited to 35 La Liga starts due to a series of injuries, including two operations to treat a ruptured hamstring.
Barca thrashed Villarreal 4-0 in their first league game of the season Sunday with two goals from teenage forward Fati, who joined Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in attack.
Koeman also confirmed that United States fullback Sergino Dest was undergoing a medical with the club Wednesday ahead of a move from Ajax Amsterdam which Spanish media reports said was worth 20m euros plus five in variables.
Dest, who broke into Ajax’s first team from the academy last year to make 27 appearances in all competitions, will compete with Sergi Roberto for Barca’s right back spot after Nelson Semedo left for Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.
