Premier League duo Aston Villa and Southampton both opted against signing Lyon striker Moussa Dembele as they felt the Frenchman was ‘not a viable option’, according to The Athletic.
Exactly why that is, regrettably, remains uncertain.
Perhaps Unai Emery and Nathan Jones had concerns over Dembele’s injury record. The former Celtic talisman has missed a number of games due to a variety of fitness issues since the start of 2020/21. But, still, it would be a stretch to describe him as ‘injury-prone’.
Perhaps his form was the main concern. In all competitions this season, Dembele has just two goals in 17 matches for a Lyon side limping along in mid-table under Laurent Blanc; overshadowed at Stade OL by the veteran Alexandre Lacazette.
Aston Villa and Southampton decided against Lyon striker Moussa Dembele
The concerns certainly could not have come from Dembele’s price-tag. With his contract expiring, Lyon were reportedly willing to sell for a knock-down fee of just £3 million (Football Scotland). That is quite the discount for a striker who initially joined from Celtic in a £19 million deal.
Maybe Aston Villa and Southampton opted to wait until the July, when Dembele will be a free-agent. That seems unlikely in the case of The Saints, however. Nathan Jones was crying out for winter additions capable of making an immediate impact in the heat of a relegation battle.
Southampton, The Athletic add, ‘discounted’ Dembele while turning their attention to eventual £18 million addition Paul Onuachu. The former France U21 international had previously been on the club’s radar, but The Saints opted against a potential deal. Onuachu certainly arrives in far greater form; 17 goals in 22 matches during the first half of the season at KRC Genk.
Dembele, a prolific goalscorer with Celtic, also saw a move to Everton collapse last month. The one-time PSG starlet held talks with Frank Lampard but got cold feet about a new challenge at Goodison Park once the troubled Toffees replaced the ex-England international with Sean Dyche.
“For the qualities, he is an exceptional player,” Man City boss Pep Guardiola once said of Dembele.
Now, with his 27th birthday approaching, Dembele has work to do in order to recapture that once glittering reputation. Then again, this is a player who scored 22 times as recently as last season. The goals may have dried up of late but form, as they say, is permanent.
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