Celtic Moussa Dembele sell-on fee sadly isn't looking as lucrative as it once could have been

By John McGinley

July 3, 2021

Former Celtic striker Moussa Dembele is in line for a return to Atletico Madrid this season, after being loaned there last term.

Foot Mercato report that the Spanish side and Lyon are in negotiations for a year-long loan with a €30m purchase option.

Dembele is said to be very keen on continuing to play for the La Liga champions, despite a lack of starting opportunities in the second half of last season.

Diego Simeone enjoys working with him, it’s said by the outlet.

Celtic have a well documented sell-on bonus due, based on the profit of his Lyon exit. In the past, this has been reported to be between 10% and 15%. The clause was inserted into the £19.8m deal that ensured his exit from Glasgow in 2018. [Daily Record]

Dembele’s contract at the French club doesn’t expire until 2023, so there’s still a chance for Celtic be weighed in with a decent windfall, even if it doesn’t hit extraordinary numbers.

The reported Atletico fee of €30m wouldn’t represent much profit on £19.8m, which Celtic would only get a fraction of. It could well be we only receive a six-figure sum.

When he was finding form with Lyon, massive fees of £60m were being speculated upon. [The Sun] We won’t be enjoying an especially lucrative bonus on profit like that, it seems.

Still, whatever is on offer is better than nothing. It’d be good to see Dembele happy and healthy in La Liga. He has the ability to score regularly in that division.

It’s easy to forget he is still just 24 years old. He has plenty of time to make his mark and become a prolific goalscorer in a top European league.

I’m hoping to see him do that, still.

In other news, Celtic supporters hoping for a ‘Barky’ resurgence after that class Ange Postecoglou video.