Chelsea can forget all about signing Moussa Dembele from Celtic in the summer.
On the final days of the January transfer window there was strong speculation that the Premier League leaders had made an enquiry about the striker.
In an interview with the Daily Record Dembele’s agent, Mamadi Fofana gave one telling quote that suggests the former Fulham striker will remain with Celtic for at least another season.
The agent said: “I’d rather Moussa was playing in Scotland for the first team at a big club such as Celtic than being at an equally big club in a more prestigious league and playing for the Under-23 team.
“What is the point of that instead of Champions League with Celtic? As a player and as an agent, you have to use your brain.”
Better players than Dembele have had to settle for extended spells on the bench at Chelsea as Michy Batshuayi will testify.
Dembele has scored 27 goals this season for Celtic but it’s not his domestic scoring record that has made the big clubs stand up and take notice.
Despite Celtic failing to win any of their Champions League matches Dembele notched three goals including a double against Manchester City and also scored twice when the French u21 side beat England.
Celtic signed Dembele from Fulham for a £500,000 development fee since it was a cross border transfer.