Premier League side Southampton are eyeing a deal for Moussa Dembele from Lyon, which could result in money headed to Celtic. The Scottish Champions may finally see a return in the sell-on fee that was added to Dembele’s contract when he was sold to Lyon in 2018.
According to The Scottish Sun, Dembele is a target for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side as the Premier League side look to capitalise on the contract stand-off.
With 67 goals since arriving in France, Dembele has been linked with a variety of moves but the clinical striker appears to be looking at his future following OL’s decision to re-sign Lacazette from Arsenal on a free transfer.
Earlier today, Southampton signed Joe Aribo for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £6m with add-ons. The club appear to be capitalising on contracts running down and striking deals where they can. Clearly, it is part of their business model.
Celtic are believed to be due a cut of any deal that Lyon make, which could result in a small amount of cash returning to Paradise for the powerful striker. The 25-year-old 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 Peter Bosz attack.
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.
You do have to think that Dembele could have gone on to achieve much more at Celtic which would have likely taken him beyond Lyon. Whilst he is doing well there, you have to think that from the qualities that the centre forward produced in attack for Celtic would see him move to a top team instead of a lateral move to Lyon.
