According to reports from London Evening Standard, representatives of Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur target Moussa Dembele have met with Monaco to discuss a potential summer move.
The highly-rated 19-year-old has bagged nine goals and two assists in 23 Championship appearances this season, for a Fulham side who find themselves just six points and four places above the relegation zone.
In no small part due to his contract expiring at the end of the season, a number of clubs have taken an interest in the former PSG starlet over the last few months. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have been heavily linked with Dembele for some time, whilst London Evening Standard document interest from Liverpool as well.
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But according to LES, fellow admirers Monaco may have just edged ahead of the Premier League trio in the race to sign the 6-foot striker. From January 1st, Dembele has been allowed to negotiate pre-contract terms with foreign clubs and his representatives were reportedly in Monte Carlo earlier this week to discuss a deal with the Ligue 1 side.
The fight for the teenager’s signature isn’t over just yet, however. Fulham would benefit more from a domestic move, requiring either a transfer fee in January or a compensation fee decided by a tribunal in the summer. Foreign clubs, on the other hand, would only have to pay around £300k in compensation as it would count as an international transfer.
With the west London club also under UEFA’s Financial Fair Play microscope, as they serve a transfer embargo that may be lifted in the summer should their bank balance improve, they could resultantly look to tout Dembele out to his Premier League suitors this month. The Cottagers reportedly value him at around £6million.