Hartson says Celtic should keep Dembele for their Europa League campaign before cashing in during the summer
John Hartson accepts that Moussa Dembele will leave Celtic eventually but he says that the club should probably try to hold on to him until the summer.
Speaking even before Leigh Griffiths sustained his calf injury, the former Parkhead striker said that the club’s Europa League ambitions make it important to hang on to the player beyond the current transfer window
“Dembele will leave the club. It is just a case of will they do business before the end of January?
“I don’t think they are in a particular rush to sell. Celtic don’t need the money as they have already banked the cash for two hits in the Champions League group stages last season and this season and they are through to the Europa League knock-out stage where they face Zenit over two games. So financially there is no hurry to sell Dembele but I think he will leave the club.
“When you have such a fine asset that you paid £500,000 for and he is worth £20 plus million, then the fans are resigned to the fact that he will go at some stage. But I don’t know if it is better that Dembele goes right now as Celtic have a tie against Zenit in the Europa League which they will feel that they can possibly get through.
“If they can keep a clean sheet in the first leg at Celtic Park and get a positive result and take something over to Russia then they will be in with a shout.
“Zenit will probably start the game as favourites over two legs but we also know the performances that Celtic are capable of. Granted, the likes of PSG and Bayern Munich have swept Celtic aside but these teams are arguably the favourites to win the Champions League. Brendan [Rodgers] might be thinking about keeping Dembele beyond January and still using him in the Europa League. That would be a bonus for Celtic.”
After dominating the domestic scene, Rodgers is keen to make his
mark in Europe, with a place in next year's Champions League knockout stages the ultimate aim and there is a recognition that, while Dembele is unlikely to be around to bolster that bid, it would be easier to replace him with a player of similar quality in the summer if they can hang on to him until then.
"I am a big fan of Leigh Griffiths and he does not let anybody down whenever he comes into the side,” said Hartson, who scored 88 goals in 146 appearances for the Glasgow club. “Brendan also has Odsonne Edouard who he is having a right good look at before making up his mind on him. I think Celtic will win the league again and it is a case of needing to be stronger for next season in terms of the Champions League. Brendan will want to emulate Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon and reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
“It is not the worst scenario in the world for Celtic to keep Dembele but I think he will move on and it is just a case of how they manage to put the whole deal together. It is always easier to do business in the summer although I think I was always transferred in January!”