Chelsea and Man Utd monitoring contract standoff at Barcelona

Premier League pair Chelsea and Manchester United are monitoring Ousmane Dembele's ongoing contract standoff with LaLiga side Barcelona, according to Spanish publication Sport. 

The Frenchman has 18 months left to run on his current deal with the Blaugrana and he was heavily linked with a move away from the club over the summer. 

However, Barcelona's failure to land Memphis Depay from Lyon meant Dembele remained at Camp Nou. 

The 23-year-old has enjoyed an extended run of first team action as he looks to live up to early career promise. 

Indeed, Dembele's time in Spain has been blighted by injury, which means he has never made more than 20 starts in a LaLiga season following his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. 

Barcelona are believed to have been encouraged by Dembele's recent form, but his current contract situation means the LaLiga powerhouse could seek to offload the France international. 

Dembele is free to negotiate pre-contract terms with other clubs in 12 months' time and Barcelona will feel they need to sell rather than lose a player they spent £135m to sign on a free. 

Chelsea and United have both been linked with a move for Dembele in the past and could revive their interest in the winger if he is allowed to depart Spain.