Dembele won’t rule out move in January sale

MOUSSA DEMBELE has refused to rule out a move in the January transfer window but has maintained that he is “100%” focused on Celtic.

The 21-year-old French striker has been heavily linked with a return south of the border, with Brighton the latest club to be credited with an interest in Dembele. Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Chelsea have also all been reported to have been keeping tabs on the former Fulham player.

Dembele netted 32 goals in his inaugural season at Celtic but injury has made this term less fluent. Interest, though, remains high in the striker and while he has maintained that his focus is not affected by any speculation regarding his future, he has acknowledged that a formal bid for him could change the complexion of his situation.

The striker and his advisors have been praised by Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, for their ability to envisage the bigger picture as they follow a long-term plan for the player. Dembele still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract but any significant bid could pique the interest of the club and the striker.

“I can say it is part of the plan [to stay] but the plan can change,” said Dembele. “It can change. As long as I am here I will give 100% but I don’t know until when. I just focus on my football and give my best for the club.”

Despite what is expected to be another month of speculation, the striker has maintained that he is unfazed by chat about his future.

Last January he had a bit of fun on the final day of the transfer window on social media site Twitter. The striker tweeted a photo of Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio delivering the “I’m not leaving” speech from the film Wolf of Wall Street, with himself in a similar pose after reports had claimed Chelsea were considering a £30millionplus offer in the final 24 hours of the window.

“For me, every day I will be coming into training,” said the striker. “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% and we will see what will happen in the future.”

Asked if it was unsettling to be the subject of speculation, the striker said: “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.”

Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, is equally unperturbed at the chat that will inevitably unfold around the 21-year-old.

“There will be speculation about a number of players and a few clubs added to the list,” he said.

“It’s part of the nature of a team performing well and players performing.”