PANEFUL TRUTH
Dembele admits he could be prised away from Celtic in the transfer window
MOUSSA DEMBELE has admitted for the first time he could be prised away from Celtic in next month’s transfer window.
The striker was involved in fevered speculation 12 months ago and interest in the Frenchman is hotting up again despite an injury-hit first half of the season.
English big guns Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton are among
the long list of clubs keeping tabs on him with Premier League Brighton believed to be preparing to test the water with a £20million bid after the turn of the year.
Parkhead chiefs rate the France Under-21 star at north of £30m and are under no sweat to cash in after banking Champions League cash for a second season on the spin.
And while Dembele insists the current plan is to remain in Glasgow until the summer the 21-year-old admitted the prospect of a mega move could force a rethink.
The former Fulham starlet said: “I can say it is part of the plan (to stay) but the plan can change. It can change.
“As long as I am here I will give 100 per cent. I just focus on my football and give my best for the club and we will see.
“For me, every day I will be coming into training. I don’t look at the media or what people are saying about me.
“I just focus on myself and as long as I am here I will be giving 100 per cent and we will see what will happen in the future. For now I am here.
“Was the speculation difficult last season? No, not really. That was the case when I was in France too so I have been used to it.
“I just get my head down and work. I have my agent and my family who take care of that and I focus on my football. You have to focus on what you are good at and what I am good at is playing football and scoring goals.”
Dembele is determined to get back firing after a disrupted eight months.
The striker spent two prolonged periods on the sidelines with hamstring injuries but insisted the time out didn’t get him down.
Dembele – who has scored eight in 17 club appearances this season – said: “It has not really been frustrating.
“Injuries are part of football – don’t be a footballer if you don’t want to be injured.
“You don’t want to be injured but sometimes you are. You have to work hard to make sure you come back fit and strong – and that’s what I’ve done so there is no frustration.
“It is difficult to watch games from the stand of course. You imagine yourself on the pitch and what you would be doing if you were.”
The Frenchman has been scrapping with Leigh Griffiths for the frontman role. But he also now has countryman Odsonne Edouard – who hit his first Hoops treble in this month’s 5-1 win over Motherwell – for competition.
He said: “Odsonne has done well since he came into the team and stepped up and scored a hat-trick. That is good for him but there has always been competition at this club – that is not new.
“I don’t look to my right or my left, I just focus on myself.”
Dembele has set his sights on Hamilton tonight but is also convinced Celtic are in good shape to target Europa League glory in the new year.
The Hoops have been hit with Zenit St Petersburg in the last 32 but he won’t be running scared if still in town.
He said: “There is nothing to fear from any team. They are human even if Zenit have spent more money than us.
“We just have to compete against them, do our best and see what happens.
“We believe in ourselves. You just have to go out and compete against any team you are drawn against.
“If they are there they are good enough to be there – and we are too.”
Brendan Rodgers is well aware Dembele is a man in demand but insisted Celts will call the shots on his future.
The Celts boss said: “There will be speculation about a number of players and a few clubs added to the list.
“It’s part of the nature of a team performing well and players performing at a good level. Others then see potential in players and that will always be the case.
“And it is how it is here – players come through and come on then of course they move on. But that’s only when we want them to.”