Chris Sutton has claimed Moussa Dembele can net Celtic a £60million jackpot in the coming months as he bounces back from a mixed second season at the club.
Writing in the Daily Record, the former Hoops striker explained the French striker can help secure the club a passage into the lucrative group stages of the Champions League and then seal a big-money move away.
Sutton is convinced Dembele’s valuation will rise from its current £15million to £20million if he is capped by the full France team in the autumn, while a place in the first round proper of Europe’s elite competition is worth a potential £40million.
“Dembele could make Celtic a whopping £60million this season,” Dembele told the Record. “There was a lingering feeling that the Parkhead club may have missed the boat in terms of getting the proper value for their French striker but the situation has taken a fresh twist which could yield an even more staggering dividend.
“Dembele is an outstanding player. He has all the attributes required to go the top and I’m convinced he will get there in time. Celtic could be in position to hit the jackpot by not selling right now.
“Like Kieran Tierney, Celtic would find it tough to knock back a big fee, especially if the players can earn about five times their salary. Of course they’ll want to go.
“But right now, Dembele is potentially holding a couple of mammoth cheques in his hands made out to Celtic PLC. If the Hoops can hold him for six more months he might just sign them off for an incredible pay-out.”
OPINION
Sutton is right. Dembele’s value will rocket if he thrives in the Champions League before Christmas. He suffered sophomore syndrome in his second year at Celtic after a dynamite debut campaign when he scored goals for fun and shot down elite European defences, not to mention Rangers with a memorable Old Firm hat-trick. The early signs in the new season, which began with a Champions League qualification win for Celtic in midweek, are that Dembele looks fit, re-energised and ready to fulfil his immense promise. Should his goals contribute to not only the Hoops securing a group stage place, but he repeats his feats of two years ago and also rips it up in the first round proper, the sky will be the limit for the fee Celtic can command for a centre-forward who only turned 22 this week and has his best years a long way ahead of him.