Official: Ousmane Dembele ruled out for 6 months/Barcelona tipped to sign Willian Jose imminently

Posted Wednesday, February 12, 2020 by 101 GREAT GOALS

Spanish heavyweights Barcelona have this evening confirmed the news that Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Dembele latest

After reports began to emerge that French international Dembele had suffered a setback in his work towards a return to the pitch, Barca provided an update on the situation this day last week.

In an official statement across the club's social media platforms, the Catalan giants confirmed that their struggling wide-man had fallen victim to 'a complete proximal hamstring tear in his right thigh'.

This immediately saw fears spread that Dembele was set to be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

And, as outlined above, this much has this evening been confirmed.

In a report on the club's website, Barca announced that Dembele underwent surgery earlier today, with the 22-year-old set to be on the sidelines 'for around 6 months':

'Ousmane Dembéle has successfully undergone surgery in Turku, Finland where he was operated on by Dr. Lasse Lempainen for a ruptured tendon in his proximal hamstring in his right thigh. The Frenchman will be out for around 6 months.'

Barca's crisis up top

Dembele's latest setback, meanwhile, could not come at a worse time for Barcelona.

The Blaugrana are already without the services of Luis Suarez, who is also sidelined through injury, while Carles Perez was allowed to depart the Camp Nou for AS Roma in January.

This means that, incredibly, as things stand, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and 17-year-old Ansu Fati are the only recognised senior attackers at the disposal of Quique Setien.

Official: Ousmane Dembele ruled out for 6 months/Barcelona tipped to sign Willian Jose imminently
BARCELONA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 14: Anssumane Fati of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Valencia CF at Camp Nou on September 14, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Jose on the way?

Reports emerging on the back of Dembele's latest injury setback last week, though, suggested that Barca may be aided in their injury crisis by RFEF rules and regulations.

It was claimed that, if Dembele's issue ruled him out for more than 5 months, the La Liga champions would be allowed to bring in reinforcements outside of the standard transfer window confines.

Such a signing could only come in the form of either a free agent, or an addition from a Spanish top-flight rival.

And, if the latest speculation emerging from the Spanish press over the last couple of hours is to be believed, then those in charge at the Camp Nou may have already found their man.

As first reported by RTVE, and since followed up on by the likes of Sport, Barcelona have struck a deal with Real Sociedad over the signing of striker Willian Jose.

Former Brazilian youth international Jose has found the back of the net 8 times in La Liga this season, and was hotly-tipped to join Tottenham in January.

It is now claimed, though, that the 28-year-old is all set for a €35 million Blaugrana switch, on the recommendation of Quique Setien.