Everton and Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing an €18m move for former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele. The 26-year-old is in the final months of his contract with the Ligue 1 side and is attracting interest as the transfer window enters its final third.
According to Foot Mercato, Dembele is a target for both teams with Lyon keen to sell the player as to avoid losing him on a free transfer in the summer. Everton are in desperate need of a striker with Dominic Calvert-Lewin seemingly unable to get himself fit. Meanwhile, Aston Villa will be in the market for a new striker with the news that Danny Ings is nearing a move to West Ham.
This news will have Celtic’s Michael Nicholson taking note of developments due to the fee that Celtic will be due if Lyon sell Dembele this window. The fee that is going about in various media outlet appears to be €18m but the buying clubs have a strong hand here owing to the fact that Dembele’s deal expires this summer. On the other hand, it might be said that both Villa and Everton needing goals puts Lyon in a good place to negotiate. There has been a suggestion of the sell-on fee being based upon profit; however, Celtic have been known to be shrewd negotiators in order to protect their interests.
Dembele called Celtic ‘the greatest club in the world’ previously. Dembele was a fan favourite instantly with a hat-trick against Rangers at Celtic Park. He actually managed seven goals and four assists in eight appearances against the Ibrox side. He scored 51 goals in 94 appearances across the two seasons, winning six trophies during his trophy-laden spell in Glasgow.
The clinical striker was excellent for the club before leaving in a £20m deal for Lyon after falling out with Brendan Rodgers. It would have been expected for Dembele to really kick on and go to the top level instead of remaining in France but the deal to take him to Atletico Madrid on a permanent basis appeared to fall through, leaving him to spearhead the attack for Lyon.
Certainly one to keep an eye on.
We won’t get a penny the % clause is only on profit
Would he want to come back to the greatest club in the world on a free if not sold?