FC Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele has revealed that he is ready to sign a long-term contract renewal with the Catalans during an interview with MARCA published on Saturday.

Dembele extended terms until 2024 last year after initially appearing as though he was on his way out of the club he joined as part of a €105 million ($115 million) deal in 2017 on a free transfer.

He was heavily linked to the likes of Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, and continues to be given that a paltry €50 million ($53 million) release clause of which he and agent Sissoko can pocket half is there to be activated this summer.

Outlets such have SPORT have already reported that Barca started talks to tie the Frenchman down for the long run, however, and Dembele indicated to Madrid-based MARCA that he is prepared to put pen to paper in the coming weeks.

"Barca want to renew me until 2027 and my agent is talking to them. I'm happy here and I want to keep going. We'll see what happens," the 26-year-old explained.

Of the mentioned period 12 months ago when he seemed destined to flee Camp Nou, Dembele remarked: "I didn't see myself outside Barca."

"We were negotiating, something that is normal in the world of football. Sometimes things went well and sometimes not so well, but in the end an agreement was reached. There was a lot of talk about PSG maybe because I'm French, but there was nothing at any time with this club."

Whereas some fans and pundits demanded that Dembele be sent to the stands to watch the rest of the 2022/2023 season as a punishment for renewal talks breaking down, coach Xavi Hernandez took the forward under his wing and turned him into one of the best widemen in European football.

As Dembele detailed, this support was key to his reversal in fortunes and those of the first team that last season achieved its first La Liga title in four years.

"Having the confidence of the coach is very important for a player and the coach has given it to me," Dembele said.

"I know that I am a person who must help the team by giving assists and scoring goals and I assume this responsibility. Xavi has given confidence to the team and that has been noticed in the results."

Currently on international duty with the France national team, Dembele will return to action in July for a preseason tour of the United States.