BARCELONA boss Xavi was reportedly left ‘speechless’ after Manchester United target Ousmane Dembele demanded £700,000-a-week to sign a new deal.

Florian Plettenburg claims the winger put forwarded his wage request this week amid links with a January move to United and Bayern Munich.

Dembele is out of contract at the end of the season and can negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign sides this month.

Bayern have been linked with a possible switch following his successful stint at Borussia Dortmund.

But Barcelona remain hopeful they can convince Dembele to extend his Nou Camp stay.

However, the Frenchman’s demands for £700k per week did not go down well with manager Xavi.

He was reportedly left aghast when informed by club chiefs.

And Barca are now facing the real prospect of losing a 24-year-old – who they signed for £135million – on a free transfer.

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Newcastle are known to be interested in Dembele after making their first signing of the new Saudi era in Kieran Trippier.

United have been linked too, with Ralf Rangnick searching for fresh faces to lead a charge up the Premier League table.

One option reportedly mooted by the German is a swap deal for Dembele involving wantaway Red Devils striker Anthony Martial.

That's because Barcelona are on the hunt for a new striker following Sergio Aguero’s retirement.

Having already splashed £55m on Ferran Torres, they have also been linked with Alvaro Morata and Edinson Cavani.

But Barca chiefs are now quietly confident of challenging Real Madrid and Man City for Erling Haaland this summer.

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