Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Rafinha and Ousmane Dembele

Barcelona midfielder Rafinha Alcantara is seriously considering his future at the Camp Nou.

That's according to Tomas Andreu of Sport, who stated that the Brazilian is considering an exit at the end of the campaign as he "does not see a clear future for himself" at the club.

Andreu also suggested that the playmaker has told those close to him about his doubts: "He has thought about the matter seriously for a few weeks. The midfielder considers that his game has stalled because of a lack of continuity."

The 24-year-old honed his skills in Barcelona's famed Masia academy, and as we can see here, his technical ability is beyond dispute:

However, getting game time in Luis Enrique's team is difficult, especially in midfield, where there are so many options. Rafinha has to battle with the likes of Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Denis Suarez, Arda Turan and Sergi Roberto for a spot in the team.

As such, Rafinha has often found himself utilised in unfamiliar positions. In Barcelona's incredible 6-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League recently, Enrique deployed him as a wing-back. 

Per Jack Rathborn of the Daily Mirror, the Brazil international has looked capable of doing a decent job in that position:

Rafinha is at his best in central midfield, though. His understanding of the game is clear in his play, while his technical ability and change of pace makes him difficult to deal with. However, since he suffered a serious knee injury in 2015, we've not seen Rafinha given a consistent run in this position.

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You sense that plenty of sides would love to give him that opportunity, and while it would likely be galling for Rafinha to depart the club, he may well need to for the sake of his career.

Ousmane Dembele Linked

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t James Dutton of MailOnline) Barcelona are considering a summer swoop for Borussia Dortmund starlet Ousmane Dembele.

It's suggested that fears over the future of Lionel Messi, who has still yet to sign a new contract at the Camp Nou, are lingering. The 19-year-old Dembele is said to be regarded as a potential long-term replacement.

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Filling the shoes of one of the greatest players of all time would be an impossible task. However, Dembele has shown enough in his time with Dortmund and Stade Rennais to suggest he's going to the top of the game:

The France international has been exhilarating to watch since his move to Westfalenstadion last summer. He's typically operated on the left flank, although he has drifted infield to great effect. Dembele is able to marry dynamic physical attributes with tremendous composure in possession, helping him secure seven goals and 14 assists in all competitions this season.

As noted by German football journalist Alex Chaffer, Dembele is a joy to watch with the ball at his feet:

Given Dortmund only signed Dembele last summer, there's no doubt they'd dig their heels in and resist any offers at the end of the campaign. It means Barcelona would have to stump up a massive amount to convince them into a sale.

For the player, a move to the Camp Nou wouldn't make too much sense as things stand, either. At Dortmund, he's playing regularly, improving as a footballer and challenging for major honours. The world's biggest teams will swoop for him eventually, but he shouldn't be in any rush to leave North Rhine-Westphalia.