Dembele’s contract will expire at the end of the season and he has refused to sign a new deal with Barcelona as he closes in on a free transfer exit.
The Catalan giants wanted to get rid of him in the winter transfer window and despite efforts until the final hour of the window, they failed to move on the Frenchman.
He is believed to be on his way to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer but Chelsea and Tottenham are also said to be keen on snapping him up on a free transfer.
Barcelona have threatened to keep him on the stands for the rest of the season and Laporta stressed that the final decision will be made by coach Xavi Hernandez.
But he conceded that it would be hard for him to fathom seeing Dembele again in the team this season.
“The coach will decide”, the Barcelona president said in a press conference when asked whether Dembele will play again this season.
“But I think it will be difficult for him to play.”
Barcelona signed Adama Traore and Ferran Torres to play on the flanks in place of Dembele.
