JEAN-MICHAEL AULAS, the President of Lyon, has had a tough day negotiating with Celtic – presumably Peter Lawwell – and has found the going tough. He has described Celtic as being ‘tricky negotiators’ – that’s something. The Financial Tims will be creaming themselves with excitement, meanwhile Paul The Tim has called for us to riot if Moussa is sold!
Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas confirms negotiations with Celtic for French striker Moussa Dembélé: "We are in contact with Moussa Dembélé, the player is interested but Celtic are tricky negotiators. We have other options."
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 29, 2018
So we know that Lyon are interested and have the money. Aulas has also suggested to a French journalist that Marseille don’t have the money that Celtic are looking for. And the Lyon President has also stated that Moussa Dembele is interested in the move.
Brendan Rodgers has said that the player will only be sold if there is a replacement striker lined up and Peter Lawwell is looking through his 2007 filofax to see if he’s still got ex-Celtic striker Kenny Miller’s phone number.
Too later Peter…
Veteran striker Kenny Miller signs a two-year deal with Dundee. The 38-year-old left Livingston just seven weeks after being appointed player-manager.https://t.co/YnjEsVDBZ4 pic.twitter.com/8gbFV7nR7B
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) August 29, 2018
Most of the above seems to be true.
Brendan also said that Moussa wasn’t at training at Lennoxtown today as he was at Celtic Park discussing his future with the club – he also confirmed that there was ‘big interest’ in the player from one club in particular and let’s assume that it’s Lyon.
“We are interested in Dembélé, we have contacted him, he is interested, it is one of the tracks but we have others,” said Aulas.
Aulas was talking to the media to get across his position that he may look elsewhere for a new striker.
“There are other tracks”, he said.
So we can gather from that that the Lyon ‘bid’ – whether formally submitted or not – does not match the valuation that Celtic have put in the player. And with the English window closed, Celtic would surely reach their asking price in January from an English Premier League side desperate for goals, so why sell Moussa on the cheap now?
If Dembele goes we riot. pic.twitter.com/qZImXbw2be
— Kieran Caw (@Kieran_Celtic) August 29, 2018
If @MDembele_10 goes we riot
— paul the tim (@paulthetim) August 29, 2018
Brendan said that Moussa will be available for the game tomorrow evening – against FK Suduva in the Europa League Play-offs and assuming Celtic get through surely it makes sense to keep him for this campaign then, if he has to go, selling to England in January for an inflated price?
“We can’t announced his replacement just yet. His arrival and Mariano’s exit will be connected. Moussa Dembele is an avenue, but I’ve also read that Marseille are on it. Is it more difficult for them? Yes, I believe so” the Lyon president smiled.
Apparently Marseille tried to offer a player plus cash deal but Celtic pointed out that the Financial Tims are only interested in cash arriving in this window.
Marseille have tried to include Clinton N’Jie in a deal for Celtic striker Moussa Dembélé but the Scottish side said no, according to Get French Football News sources.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 29, 2018
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