Barcelona Transfer News: Major Ousmane Dembele and Alexandre Pato Rumours

Barcelona have attacking reinforcements in mind this summer and have reportedly seen a €35 million (£27.1 million) bid for Rennes prodigy Ousmane Dembele rejected, while rumours of interest in Alexandre Pato have emerged.

French magazine France Football reported Rennes rejected Barca's big-money offer for their starlet, who is also understood to be drawing attention from Manchester City and Bayern Munich (h/t Goal's Alex Young).

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Dembele earned his full Rennes debut in November 2015 and has gradually grown to become a prominent member of the team's starting XI, netting nine times in just 13 Ligue 1 starts.

The France under-19 international boasts an elite status among Europe's youngsters as a result and has scored more goals than any other under-20 player in the top divisions, per OptaJean:

News of Barcelona's interest in a burgeoning youngster is far from surprising, but it's difficult to see where Dembele would factor into an attacking setup that already includes Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

France manager Didier Deschamps has acknowledged the teenager's progress at Roazhon Park. Simon Jones of the Daily Mail provided quotes from the national team boss, who highlighted how important it is that the player be allowed to develop at his own pace:

"

People have talked about him to me for two years. We'll say that he should be left in peace. Before his hat-trick [against Nantes], he did other things. He's quick, he has two feet, he can play in three positions in attack, and he's only going to improve.

It is too early? It all depends on the competition, but obviously I'm watching him.

"

Barca already have the likes of Rafinha, Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez vying for playing time behind their "MSN" trio, and Dembele may wish to grow in his native France for now, rather than risk losing his current momentum.

That being said, the 18-year-old is rightly gathering a lot of attention at present, and BT Sport recently provided footage of the first two of his three goals in a 4-1 thrashing of Nantes:

Shock rumours have also surfaced after Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claimed the Blaugrana are ready to make an offer for Corinthians forward Pato this summer, when his six-month loan at Chelsea draws to an end (h/t Joe Short of the Daily Express).   

The Brazilian moved to Stamford Bridge on temporary terms in January but is yet to make his Blues debut, leading blogger Liam Canning to question why the club acquired him in the first place:

In his defence, Pato's football calendar doesn't match up with that of Europe's after leaving Brazil, so the former AC Milan ace may yet have his chance to impress once interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink feels he's fit enough.

Mundo Deportivo added Barca are "seeking a player to compliment" Messi, Neymar and Suarez in attack and noted that Chelsea could purchase the player before selling him on to the Camp Nou for a costlier sum.