TWO years ago today Celtic pulled off one of the most spectacular transfers in the club’s history when the newly arrived manager Brendan Rodgers convinced one of the top young talents in England – the French teenager Moussa Dembele to sign for the Scottish Champions on a four year contract.
Deembele came to develop his game under the impressive Rodgers. He came for the chance to play in the Champions League. He came to win trophies, play and score in cup finals. He came to enjoy his football and improve as a player. He came to play for a big club in front of passionate supporters.
Celtic offered him all of the above – together with a very attractive contract that put him up there as one of the top earners at the club – and delivered it all and some more.
And not only that but Celtic also added a few of his countrymen to come and join the Rodgers Revolution at Paradise. Both Olivier Ntcham and Odsonne Edouard are now Celtic stars and here for the long term and there are other French speakers too.
On this day in 2016, Celtic confirmed the signing of Moussa Dembele from Fulham.
Games: 88
Starts: 65
Goals: 48
Assists: 18
Trophies: 6???????????? pic.twitter.com/AktuC12JUo
— Focus on Celtic (@FocusOnCeltic) June 27, 2018
But two years in, where are we with Moussa Dembele?
Yesterday there was a report that Marseille have cooled on their apparent interest in signing Dembele and despite all the transfer speculation that has surrounded the player since his arrival at Celtic Park, only one bid has been received for him. That was from Brighton and it didn’t come close to Celtic’s valuation of the player.
Now in the modern game players are going to move on. They are going to have ambitions to play elsewhere, to play in bigger leagues and earn more money – just look at Stuart Armstrong. His new manager Mark Hughes spoke about his European experience he gained at Celtic, yet you are left wondering if he’ll get to play European football again. Still £40,000 a week is adequate compensation, so no tears on that one.
2 years ago today, Moussa Dembele signed for Celtic. @MDembele_10 pic.twitter.com/WvQqGNWoO5
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe8) June 27, 2018
But Demeble hasn’t been in any rush to leave the place. He likes playing for Celtic and his agent has let it be known that he would be up for considering a new contract.
Dembele needs to be sold this summer if Celtic are to achieve the maximum transfer value. Waiting any longer certainly to next summer – and the bargain hunters will be out in force. That’s not where Celtic want to be as far as Dembele is concerned.
So two years into his deal, would it not make sense for Celtic to add another two years to his contract and then look at cashing in on the player at the end of the season after next?
Dembele, Odsonne and Griffiths as the striking options would be up there with Larsson, Sutton and Hartson or for those slightly older Nicholas, McGarvey and McCluskey.
