CELTIC could be the recipients of a potential multi-million pound windfall if Chelsea succeed in a bid to sign Lyon striker Moussa Dembélé, with the Scottish champions due 10 percent of any fee paid for the Frenchman.
Reports in France yesterday claimed that the Stamford Bridge club have had an offer of €40million rejected by Lyon for Dembélé, as Frank Lampard looks to increase competition in his frontline. It is understood though that Chelsea will not be dissuaded by the apparent reluctance of the Ligue One outfit to part company with the 23-year-old, and they are likely to return with an improved offer during this transfer window.
Lyon took the unusual step last night of warning off any potential suitors for Dembélé publicly, with a statement reading: “Olympique Lyonnais has taken note of certain information relayed by the media suggesting that Moussa Dembélé could interest other clubs during this transfer window.
“OL would like to reaffirm its wish, as in the summer of 2019, to keep Moussa Dembélé.
“The club has full confidence in Moussa and counts in particular on him to build a successful team for the seasons to come.”
A 10 percent sell-on clause was inserted into the £20million deal it took to prise Dembélé away from Celtic Park 18 months ago, meaning they could reasonably expect to land a figure somewhere in the region of €5million should Dembele make the move to the English Premier League in January.
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