Paris Saint-Germain has begun moving forward on one of the most important issues in coach Luis Enrique's project, which involves extending the contract of French star Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé is considered a cornerstone of the team at this stage, with both parties expressing a mutual desire to reach an agreement.

According to reports, the Parisian club has already begun initial contacts with the player's circle, aiming to make him the iconic player of the team, despite the management's awareness of potential complications, primarily the financial demands of the Ballon d'Or winner.

There have been rumors in France that Dembélé is demanding his salary be raised to around 60 million euros annually, but these figures have not been officially confirmed by the club or the player. It is expected that negotiations will take a long time, with no official announcement anticipated before the end of the season.

Paris Saint-Germain plans to adopt the same approach it has recently succeeded with in renewing its players' contracts, rejecting offers with open-ended salaries. Instead, it prefers to link the majority of financial returns to variables and incentives, such as performance and number of matches, alongside a fixed base salary.

The French newspaper "L'Équipe" reported that Dembélé's camp has been requesting a significant salary increase for months following his Ballon d'Or win, which the club's management has not agreed to, neither the sporting director Luis Campos nor the club's owners in Qatar. This could complicate negotiations if both parties remain firm in their positions.

For his part, the club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi sent a clear message, affirming that Paris Saint-Germain will not engage in any "financial madness" to renew Dembélé's contract, emphasizing that the club operates within a clear salary cap that cannot be exceeded.

Al-Khelaifi added that Dembélé is "a legend among the club's legends," but he emphasized at the same time that "the club and the team come above all," indicating that no matter how important a player is, their status can never be above the institution.

Dembélé was one of the main reasons behind Paris Saint-Germain winning six out of seven possible titles, before crowning his efforts by winning the Ballon d'Or last September, confirming his strong comeback after years of struggling with injuries.

The renewal of Dembélé's contract is a top priority for coach Luis Enrique and the club's management, especially as the player feels comfortable and settled in Paris, having regained his best form. However, Paris Saint-Germain insists on completing the deal in a balanced manner, without disrupting the salary structure or making excessive concessions, despite the significant importance the player holds in the club's sporting project.