Barcelona star spotted in stands at Sunderland - as fans say he's 'signing for Newcastle'

Newcastle United fans think they spotted their next signing in the stands at Sunderland on Wednesday evening - with a Barcelona star spotted watching their Championship fixture

Rhys Daly Senior Sports Reporter

06:00, 16 Mar 2023Updated 07:16, 16 Mar 2023

[Ousmane Dembele was an unexpected guest at Sunderland's Championship clash]

Ousmane Dembele was an unexpected guest at Sunderland's Championship clash(Image: Twitter @BBCMOTD)

Ousmane Dembele was an unexpected guest at Sunderland's Championship clash against Sheffield United - and Newcastle fans think he got the wrong address.

The World Cup winning France international is back in steady form at the Nou Camp under Xavi having scored eight goals and added seven assists so far this season - and will be keen to play Champions League football should he end up leaving Barcelona.

With Newcastle four points from a top-four finish with two games in hand over Tottenham, fans thought Dembele's presence at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening must've been some sort of mistake.

One fan said: "Someone should have told him Newcastle is another 12 miles away."

A second added: "We might as well show him what a PREMIER LEAGUE stadium in the north east looks like shall we?"

A third posted: "Dembele to Newcastle Airport, here we go!"

Newcastle fans, who is your dream summer signing? Tell us in the comments section below.

[NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United acknowledges the fans before the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wandereres at St. James Park on March 12, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. ]

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe might be on the lookout for new signings(Image: Getty Images)

A fourth agreed: "Hes signing for Newcastle in the summer and got on the wrong bus."

In fact, Dembele is a close friend of Sunderland's majority owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, who is the son of former Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus. But the home side lost 2-1.

The pair have been spotted together in France on many occasions in the past, with both 25 years of age - and Dembele having some free time after being sidelined through injury.

[BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 24: Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Cadiz CF at Camp Nou on April 24, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. ]

Ousmane Dembele might've just be on his way to Newcastle in the summer(Image: Getty Images)

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Earlier in the year, we 'signed' Dembele for Newcastle to see how he'd fare, but he made only 126 appearances in four and a half seasons.

When asked about potential summer signings, Howe said earlier this month: "Young players and really talented young players, so thats the type of future that we want.

"We want good technical players with athletic profiles to hopefully take the team forward, so we're really pleased with the contribution of all those players."

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