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Arsenal told €100m transfer target is ‘leaving’: Arteta put on red alert

29 Apr 2026 12:34 BST | 4 min read

Ousmane Dembele, PSG, 2025/26

Arsenal have been told that Ousmane Dembele is leaving PSG in the summer, setting the Gunners up for a blockbuster transfer.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been linked with the Ballon d’Or winner for months and the door has been opened to a potential €100 million move.

Dembele has been locked in contract talks with PSG for months, and with these stalling ahead of the summer transfer window, Sky Sport transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri has announced that the France international will soon be on the move.

PSG already scouting Dembele replacement

Tavolieri reports that PSG are tracking Monaco youngster Maghnes Akliouche as a potential replacement for Dembele in their squad.

“This move is spearheaded by Luis Enrique,” he states. “The Spanish coach has reportedly been particularly impressed by the player's performances this season. Convinced of his potential, he believes he can help him take the next step and make him a key player in his game plan.”

He was asked on X why PSG would make a move for Akliouche while they still have Dembele, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in their ranks.

To this question, he simply replied: “Unfortunately, Dembele is leaving.”

Arsenal have long been credited as being the main suitors for Dembele, although interest has also come from Chelsea, with other Premier League sides likely to take note should he come on the market.

Ousmane Dembele, PSG

Why could PSG sell Dembele?

Dembele wants a contract that will break PSG’s wage structure, L’Equipe has previously reported.

The player is already their best-paid player, receiving an estimated €18 million per year, but it is claimed that he wants in excess of that.

“We have a salary cap, as everyone knows. The team and the club are the most important,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said at the end of January.

PSG are all too aware of the danger of indulging players, having spent lavishly on Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi to limited impact in the recent past. They are unlikely to be bullied into giving into the forward’s demands.

Equally, Dembele’s entourage have noted that head coach Luis Enrique is set to receive a new three-year contract worth around €20m per year.

These talks over new deals are a source of tension that could trigger a summer transfer.

Ousmane Dembele

How would Dembele fit at Arsenal?

Dembele has most frequently been linked with a move to Arsenal. The former Barcelona star has primarily been used as a false 9 by PSG, which is a role that Arsenal have not typically used this season due to their reliance on Viktor Gyokeres.

Mikel Arteta could also plan to use Dembele on the left wing, which is the role in which he made his name. The Gunners are weak in this area, with both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli potentially moving on this summer.

Dembele would represent an enormous investment. Under contract with PSG until 2028, he has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €97.9m, with the Champions League winners unlikely to sell easily.