Ousmane Dembele to Arsenal: PSG drop big hint dream move could be ON

Robin Bairner

21 Jan 2026 12:44 GMT
4 min read

Arsenal are in position to sign Ousmane Dembele in a dream move for manager Mikel Arteta after a surprising confession from PSG regarding the Ballon d’Or winner’s contract.

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Dembele is in talks to renew with PSG but no breakthrough has been made, and now the France international star has been told that the club will not be held to ransom by his demands.

The 28-year-old joined PSG in a €50 million deal from Barcelona in the summer of 2023 and has exploded since arriving in Paris, putting his physical problems behind him to win the title of the world’s best player.

Current ETV

Ousmane Dembélé

F (CR)

PSG

Ousmane Dembélé

F (CR)

PSG

ETV Range

€88M - €107.6M

With a deal at Parc des Princes that runs until 2028, Dembele would appear fairly secure in the French capital on the face of things, but behind the scenes, tension is growing with regards his extension – and Arsenal will be keeping a close eye on goings on.

The latest blow was dealt by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi following the club’s shock 2-1 loss to Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Sending a clear message to Dembele, the Qatari told Canal+ (via RMC): “The club's policy is that there's a salary cap for players, everyone knows it and everyone must respect it.

“The club is more important than anyone else.”

Dembele is already the highest-paid player at PSG and has been offered a new deal that sources say is ‘consistent” with others at the club.

© IMAGO - Ousmane Dembele: In contract dispute with PSG

Tension is growing

This may be the first public rebuke that PSG have dealt to Dembele, but it is certainly not the first report of growing tension between the two parties.

Previously, it was claimed by Canal+ that there is a growing sense of ‘unease’ surrounding the player.

Arsenal are a perfect fit for Dembele

Arsenal come into the equation because of the areas that Arteta is looking to strengthen. He wants both a winger and an attack. Dembele could fill both roles, and given the Spaniard’s love for tactically flexible players, he would appear an excellent fit for the Gunners.

This is played out in the analysis of SciSports, whose Career Advice tool suggests a switch to the Emirates Stadium would be the optimum move for Dembele if he were to decide to push for a move away from PSG to the Premier League.

© IMAGO - Ousmane Dembele, Club Fit at Arsenal

Arsenal’s Club Fit score of 83 – calculated using an algorithm that gives clubs a ranking based on various factors from development and playing time to style and formation – is very strong.

Indeed, the assessment of SciSports is that Dembele would be almost as strong at Arsenal as he has been at PSG.

Dembele to Arsenal: Is it possible?

While there is no prospect of a January deal, it’s a situation that is worth keeping an eye on before the summer.

PSG are unlikely to welcome any disruption to Luis Enrique’s team-focused approach, but Dembele’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €96.8 million indicates how tough a job Arsenal will have of taking him to London from Paris.

Under contract until 2028, the European champions are in a strong negotiating position over Dembele.

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