CAUGHT IN A MOUSS TRAP Brendan is in a bind as Lyon bid for star striker
BRENDAN RODGERS last night admitted he 100 per cent understands Moussa Dembele’s temptation to quit Celtic.
The Hoops boss and his French hitman held key talks after Lyon prepare to lodge a firm £15 million-plus bid for the 22-year-old.
Dembele was excused from training yesterday morning to join his representatives in a meeting with Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell to discuss his future.
Celtic do not want to sell, but, having spent two years in Glasgow, the striker is keen on a massive move back to his homeland.
Lyon can offer an instant return to the group stage of the Champions League and also enhance the attacker’s chances of breaking into the senior squad for world champions France.
Marseille are still in the running and, although Rodgers admits the timing of the move is not ideal for Celtic with just two days remaining in the window to source a replacement, he has no gripes with Dembele.
He said: “We don’t want to lose Moussa but it’s something that has come up and Moussa and his representatives have asked to explore that, which is natural.
“It’s a really difficult situation because he’s a very talented player.
“Moussa’s situation is, he came in here for £385,000 to develop and improve and become a better player.
“And then, naturally, while he’s not from these shores, he can love the club but look to make the next step in his career.
“It was always going to come at some point so it’s one I absolutely understand 100 percent.
“The boy has been brilliant in his time here for me. Committed, absolutely first class, it has never been an issue.
“So how it will evolve over the next three days, I’m unsure. But we’ll deal with it.” Lyon president Jean-michel Aulas confirmed the move and said: “We got in touch with him, he’s interested.”
However, Rodgers says he must find a striker to assist Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths and compensate for a Dembele departure.
The manager, who looks likely to be without Dembele for tonight’s Europa League tie against FK Suduva as the club deal with the transfer situation, added: “Of course, there’s also the timing for the club.
“It’s only three days before the end of the window and the club now have to deal with something like this now.
“So there’s a lot to take in, but you certainly can’t let your top striker move on without having anyone to come in and replace him.
“I thought I could work with two strikers in my first season here.
“With the number of games and competitions we wanted to be in, that proved to be very difficult. So we need three strikers.”