Celtic striker Moussa Dembele has been linked with Manchester United and Liverpool.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has told The Scotsman that Moussa Dembele will remain at the club until the end of the 2017-18 season.
Dembele joined Celtic in the summer of 2016 after leaving English club Fulham at the end of the 2015-16 season.
The 20-year-old French striker has been a star for the Bhoys this season and has scored 32 goals in 46 matches in all competitions.
According to The Express, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are monitoring Dembele.
It has also been reported that Premier League giants Chelsea were interested in signing the youngster in the January transfer window.
Celtic manager Rodgers has said that Dembele, whose contract with the Bhoys runs until June 2020, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk, will remain at the end of next season.
“I believed when Moussa came that he probably had two-year cycle,” Rodgers told The Scotsman. “That’s what I saw. For me, I still think that’s the case. All the conversations I have with him I have no doubt he loves it here.
“He needs another year of Champions League experience and the confidence of scoring goals and playing for such a big club, and probably then it’ll be time to fly.”
“To circle it back, he’ll certainly be here right up until Champions League qualification,” added Rodgers. “If there’s interest then we’ll sit down and talk about it.”
Rodgers’s comments should be welcomed by the fans, as they do give reassurance about Dembele’s immediate future.
While it will be hard for Celtic to keep hold of the Frenchman, if they progress to the group stage of the Champions League next season, then they could be able to convince the youngster to remain at Celtic Park for one more season.
While it must be tempting to play for United, Arsenal and Liverpool, Dembele should ask himself whether he would be able to play regularly for those teams.
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