United are closing in on £60m deal for Dembele
MANCHESTER UNITED are growing increasingly confident of landing Lyon striker Moussa Dembele for £60million.
They have been tracking the France Under-21 international for 12 months and view him as the long-term replacement for Romelu Lukaku. Dembele,
23, had scored 22 goals in all competitions this season before football was suspended.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sent scouts to watch Dembele at least three times in the past six months and is desperate to lure him to Old Trafford. Chelsea are also keen on Dembele, below, but the former Celtic forward would prefer United and has made sure the English giants know how he feels.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is now poised to make his move, hoping to exploit Lyon missing out on European qualification following the abandonment of the
French season.The Ligue 1 club are also facing financial problems because of the crippling effects of Covid-19, with president Jean-Michel Aulas admitting he might have no choice but to sell Dembele. United remain in a strong financial position and will be able to outbid the Blues. Aulus said: “I’m going to do everything to keep the players but players who are programmed to play in Europe could want to go elsewhere because we don’t have European football.” Dembele joined Lyon from Celtic in 2018 and has gone on to score 42 goals in 88 appearances to become one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe.