Liverpool Suffer Big Blow In ‘World Cup Hero’ Pursuit

Five-time European champions Liverpool have been handed a huge blow following the news that January transfer target Ousmane Dembele won’t be sold when the transfer window reopens.

Various media reports had earlier claimed that the Reds were preparing a club-record bid of £85m for the French international winger.

He was a key member of the French team that won this summer’s FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia via a 4-2 win over Croatia in the final.

It was the second title for France after the 1998 triumph on home soil.

Ousmane Dembele swapped German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona last summer after the Spanish La Liga giants paid at least €105 plus an additional €35m in add-ons.

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Barcelona director Pep Segura confirmed that Dembele won’t be sold in an interview with SER Radio and that he would soon adapt to the Barcelona style under manager Ernesto Valverde.

The former Rennes player has struggled with fitness problems and disciplinary issues since he became a Barcelona star.

The Mundo Deportivo revealed that Segura and Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu met with his representatives to discuss his future.

It was decided that he would be given enough time to adapt to the Barcelona style of play.