Celtic have rejected a ‘significant’ offer for the striker Moussa Dembele, according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who said he believes the striker will stay beyond this week’s transfer deadline.
Moussa Dembele is desperate to leave Celtic and was omitted from the squad to face Sudava in their crunch Europa League playoff on Thursday night.
The Scottish champions have received plenty of interest in the French striker over the past couple of seasons, but it is the approach of Olympique Lyonnais which has turned the head of Dembele who wants the club to allow him to return to the country of his birth.
“We don’t want Moussa to go and I can’t see it happening,” Rodgers said before the Europa League tie.
Lyon are desperate for a striker after they sold Mariano Diaz to Real Madrid and had attempted to strike a deal with Lille for Nicolas Pepe.
Dembele missed training on Wednesday and is understood to have already agreed terms with Lyon, though the two teams are still some way apart on the fee.
Celtic are on the hunt for a forward that they can bring in before the transfer deadline and are considering a number of temporary and permanent options including a loan deal for Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham.
Rodgers added that Celtic are close to clinching the signing of the former West Brom and Kilmarnock midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu.
“We were always on the lookout for a really aggressive number eight to play midfield,” Rodgers said.
“Youssouf was exceptional last year, he was very keen to come and play at a huge club and fits the profile and has the experience of being up here. All being well, it’ll be a really good move for us.”
