Sports journalist Duncan Castles has suggested that Scottish champions Celtic will sell star player Moussa Dembele during the January transfer window in order to raise funds.
There’ve been intense report about the striker’s future at Parkhead and has been going-on for months and Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion have been heavily linked with the 21-year-old star.
The Seagulls are reportedly prepared to break the bank and transfer policy to secure the signing of the striker and are rumoured to be lining up £20m for his services.
However, reports that Celtic are now willing to listen to offers for their prized talent could spark a bidding war as Crystal Palace have joined the race to to sign and they will be hoping to persuade him to return to London.
Speaking on The Transfer Window Podcast, Castles believes the Hoops are willing to striker a deal with interested sides.
He said:
“Celtic are keen to get Dembele out in this transfer window.”
“They want to make the money now if they can do but there is considerable resistance from Dembele about a move. I think they need some money in. From what I understand they need a bit of cashflow in.”
“And remember if they can take £20m-plus for Dembele, that is by some margin the biggest transfer fee the club has ever received.”
The latest on Celtic's effort to sell Moussa Dembele in the January window. #CelticFC #BHAFC https://t.co/tYXoRMoOKF pic.twitter.com/opXFW7CkEl
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) January 11, 2018
The Hoops’ current record transfer fee received was when they Victor Wanyama to Southampton for £12.5m in July 2013 who later joined Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of around £11m, with the Kenyan midfielder signing a five-year deal at White Hart Lane. The sale of Dembele could be twice of that.
The French striker joined Celtic on a free transfer from Fulham during the summer of 2016 and he has netted 40 goals in 70 appearances across all competitions for the Bhoys.
He has been an integral part of Brendan Rodger’s Celtic side that completed the domestic treble last season and the club went 69 games unbeaten.
The Glasgow outfit are eight points ahead at the top of the Scottish Premiership and host Brechin City at Celtic Park in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday.