Barcelona are reportedly hopeful of using Ousmane Dembele as part of a deal to bring Neymar back to Camp Nou.

Reports emerged earlier this week that Barcelona were considering the idea of re-signing Neymar, who left the Spanish champions for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record deal last summer.

Dembele was brought in as Neymar's replacement, but the France international missed a large chunk of his first season through injury and has fallen out of favour with manager Ernesto Valverde this term.

The 21-year-old scored five goals in his first six appearances this season, but his ill-discipline - including turning up late for training and missing some sessions altogether - is understood to have angered the club's hierarchy.

Dembele has reportedly asked to leave Barcelona in January, with Liverpool and Arsenal among the clubs thought to be interested, but Goal.com claims that he could now be used as a makeweight in a return for Neymar.

Neymar has frequently been linked with a move back to Spain since leaving Barcelona, although their Clasico rivals Real Madrid had been the favourites to sign him.

The Brazilian scored 105 times in 186 appearances for Barcelona across all competitions.