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At Paris Saint-Germain, contract renewal negotiations are often driven by necessity or prudence. However, Ousmane Dembélé's situation is entirely different.
Club's Renewal Priorities
The 28-year-old Ballon d'Or winner earns a monthly salary of €1.5 million (before tax), making him the highest-paid player in the squad, with two years remaining on his contract. As a result, his renewal situation differs from those of João Neves and William Pacho (both of whom received pay raises) and Fabián Ruiz (whose contract was set to enter its final year in June).
To this day, Paris Saint-Germain's top priority remains securing the futures of Sény Mayulu and Bradley Barcola (whose contracts expire in 2027 and 2028 respectively).
Regarding Dembélé, club insiders stated, "Everything depends on timing." All parties agree that now is not the right moment.
Opportunity for Renewal
The primary objective is the UEFA Champions League. If they can secure victory against Liverpool on Tuesday night (after a 2-0 first-leg lead), qualifying for the semi-finals for the third time in three years will be within reach.
How much will PSG's performance impact the future of this French international? This is the crux of the matter. Although discussions have been ongoing between the two parties for several months, no changes are expected before the end of the season.
Several scenarios are currently possible. If they are eliminated in the quarter-finals or semi-finals, concerns about the end of the Dembélé era may intensify, prompting PSG's decision-makers to turn a new page. Conversely, if Dembélé performs exceptionally well and helps the team reach the final again, his position will be further solidified.
Despite winning the Ballon d'Or in September, the PSG forward's path at the negotiating table has not been smooth. Numerous setbacks in the first half of the season drew widespread criticism. Although he has regained the competitive form and influence befitting his status since January, the issue of salary remains the main point of contention between the two sides.
"It is well known that we have a salary cap. The team and the club come first," emphasized club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi at the end of January. The club has stated that they will "respect" the French international.
Does the financial salary cap that PSG claims to adhere to meet Dembélé's demands?
Prior to the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Chelsea (March 17, 3-0 victory), Dembélé himself stated that there were no obstacles to his contract renewal.
"But I am not the decision-maker," he clarified, shifting responsibility to the club and his agent. Those close to him have noticed that PSG is preparing to make Luis Enrique one of the four highest-paid coaches in the world: with an annual salary of approximately €20 million.
Dembélé has also witnessed the achievements of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar at PSG without dominating Europe. He has not fully reaped the financial benefits brought by the Ballon d'Or. In particular, PSG's global partnerships (Dior, Hublot, Accor Group) have restricted his personal income, while players like Mbappé have individual contracts.
Future Destinations
If negotiations fail, England and Saudi Arabia appear to be potential destinations. Several Gulf clubs have approached Dembélé in recent months, but no official offers have been received yet.
Although he has stated that he will not engage in any discussions on this matter until the end of the season and the World Cup, he has previously seen from Theo Hernández and N'Golo Kanté that playing in the Saudi league does not hinder players from being selected for the national team.
Kanté played in the Saudi league before transferring to Fenerbahçe in January this year. Meanwhile, Dembélé and PSG have chosen to let time heal the rift between them. It remains to be seen who will ultimately prevail.
