Chris Sutton has delivered an emphatic two-word Twitter reaction to a report that Celtic are braced for formal bids for Moussa Dembele ahead of Friday’s transfer cut-off.
The former Hoops striker insisted on his personal social media account on Wednesday morning that the exit of the French striker “can’t happen” this week.
Can’t happen… https://t.co/hkEegSctlb
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) August 29, 2018
This is in response to a Daily Record report that French club Lyon are set to table a £15million-plus bid for Dembele, while Marseille are also plotting a concrete offer after initial enquiries.
OPINION
It would signal a terrible statement of intent from Celtic if they offloaded Dembele by Friday night. At this late stage, what are the chances of securing a top quality replacement for a centre-forward who has scored goals at a rate better than one every two matches since joining from Fulham two years ago. The Frenchman’s second campaign did not match his superlative first, but he looked back to his best in the early weeks of the new season and, assuming he can avoid serious injury, could score 30-plus goals this season. Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths are both fine strikers who would walk into every other team in Scotland, but neither is of the class of Dembele, who has the potential to reach the heights no other player can hope for in the entire league. Moreover, the Frenchman could be worth double the £15million Lyon and Marseille are willing to lay on the table if he fires in the goals this season. Celtic must avoid shooting themselves in the foot.