MIKEY NOT SCARED THANKS TO BOSS
Lyon leave it late as Celts scramble
FROM BACK PAGE Rodgers did admit the striker could still play in tonight’s Europa League tie against Suduva.
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 world champion France squad.
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 taking a serious look at the next step up his career ladder.
He said: “I had a long chat with him. We don’t want to lose Moussa. We made that known as well 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.
“We’ve got a couple of groups here. Now this is a cycle that comes on to Celtic every few years.
“So 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 and 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 per cent.
“The whole sort of plan that I’d spoken with Moussa a couple of years ago, I understand why he might be thinking of the possibility of moving on.
“It was always in the thought. The boy has been brilliant in his time here for me. Committed, absolutely first class, it has never been an issue.
“How it’ll evolve over the next three days I’m unsure. We’ll deal with it.”
Lyon president JeanMichel Aulas confirmed the move and said: “We got in touch with him, he’s interested. I know the boss, Peter Lawwell, at Celtic well. He is basically like a bulldog who negotiates after yapping. Don’t tell him I said that!
“He will be vexed that I’ve said that. He’s a good friend, a great guy and very difficult in negotiations.”
Rodgers admits he must find a striker to assist Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths and compensate for a possible Dembele departure.
He said: “Moussa is available for the game but I will speak to him later on. It’s clearly difficult for players and clubs at this late stage.
“I have to be convinced with everyone who plays, that they are fully committed to playing. 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 even 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.”
Rodgers confessed that, as he assessed other areas of the pitch, striker wasn’t a position that had been identified as a priority before Lyon’s interest.
He said: “No, it wasn’t. There’s areas of the pitch where we’re strong and that’s an area we’re very strong in, especially with Odsonne coming back.
“So it wasn’t one we were looking at.
“It’s case of pulling together something at this short notice to see what is available.”