Manchester United have informed Barcelona they're prepared to sign Ousmane Dembele IMMEDIATELY.

Dembele, off contract in June, has refused to consider new terms and Barca sporting director Mateu Alemany took to the mic this morning to announce the attacker will be sold "before January 31".

Sport says United are already in contact with Barca to make clear they're willing to take the attacker off their hands - but it must be done in the form of a free transfer.

United have been in contact with Dembele and agent Moussa Sissoko for the past two years and personal terms were struck before Christmas.

The struggling Premier League giants were ready to sign Dembele last summer, only a knee injury suffered at the Euros to force the deal to the backburner.

Now United are again in contact, though are insisting Barca grant the contract rebel a free transfer to see the move completed.