Ousmane Dembele is reportedly keen to join Manchester United and was given permission to miss Barcelona training on Monday.

The France international is now believed to be the Red Devils' primary target ahead of this evening's transfer deadline.

News emerged earlier today that Barca will not consider offloading Dembele on loan as they instead want him off their books permanently.

However, ESPN's Barcelona correspondent Lorens Moises has indicated that a transfer may not be dead and buried after all.

Moises claims that Dembele did not train today and is pushing for a move to Old Trafford, but it is now down to United to come to an agreement with Barca.

The Red Devils are said to be considering paying the 23-year-old's wages in full, plus a sizeable loan fee, which may persuade Barcelona to change their stance.