Moussa Dembele windfall looks unlikely for Celtic after comments

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The Moussa Dembele windfall Celtic may have hoped to get this summer looks unlikely after the striker’s latest comments.

Dembele has been linked with a move to the likes of Manchester United after a debut season in France (Goal France). The Frenchman rattled home 20 goals since making his £19.7million move from Parkhead at the start of the season (BBC).

Dembele has also continued to impress at the current European Under-21 Championships in Italy. He scored France’s winner against Croatia on Friday, and continues to grow his bustling reputation.

But, speaking to RMC Sport as reported by the Metro, Dembele refused to entertain a move to Old Trafford or anywhere at this moment in time.

“I still have another four years on my contract, I will be at Lyon next season.”

Blow for Celtic as Dembele windfall won’t be reaching coffers

It’s a slight blow to any potential transfer boost a Dembele windfall could’ve provided us. But at the end of the day, Celtic won’t have budgeted for it, and if anything, it wouldn’t have been looked at as anything other than a bonus.

The latest reports about a move for Dembele came from Goal France. They claimed that United had submitted a bid of around £35m for Dembele’s signature. After Moussa’s words, however, that looks extremely unlikely.

It may not prove great in the short-term for the Hoops, but it could have real long-term value. Should Dembele develop more yet again next season and start making waves in the Champions League, Lyon could be in for much more than £35m when they sell him. In turn, that means more of a sell-on fee for us, and a few million more in the summer we prepare for a hopeful 10-in-a-row would certainly be welcomed.

As it stands, Celtic should still have a pretty healthy budget in any case. Player sales such as Dembele and Armstrong last summer should see us with a fair few million to improve the playing squad this summer.

It’s sure to be a bit of an overhaul over these next few months too. There are far too many players offering nothing at Parkhead yet on healthy wages. Getting some of them out the door will be nearly as important as getting the right players in.

But it looks like we’ll have to do it without the extra cash from a Dembele sale. One day, in the near future, Celtic are going to make yet more money for the French talent, and his continued development bodes well for the Hoops.