Marseille want a new striker before the transfer deadline – and have narrowed their hitlist to Divock Origi and Moussa Dembele.
With the transfer window set to slam shut on Thursday, Brendan Rodgers could do with a little help from his old employers.
So far, Celtic have managed to keep hold of Moussa Dembele despite interest from countless clubs across the continent. However, the Scottish champions are not in the clear just yet with the president of Ligue 1 giants Marseille, Jacques Henri-Eyraud, confirming his interest in the prolific Frenchman, per the Daily Record.
With 32 goals in his debut season, Celtic paying Fulham just £500,000 for Dembele now looks like the snip of the century. The Daily Record report that he is now worth around £30 million.
However, Celtic’s hopes of warding off interest from Marseille could be aided by Rodgers’ former club Liverpool. Because The Mirror report that the 1993 Champions League winners are now prioritising Reds’ frontman Divock Origi, the Belgian viewed as an affordable alternative to their top target.
The 22-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield and wasn’t even included in the squad for Thursday’s victorious Champions League qualifying clash with Hoffenheim.
Therefore, with Origi seemingly some way from being Jurgen Klopp’s first choice, it would be little surprise if Liverpool were tempted to make a quick profit on a player they brought to England from Lille for £10 million three years ago (The Mirror).
And Celtic may be watching the rumour with interest. Because, with Marseille already missing out on a number of their top striker targets this summer, failing to land Origi may just convince them to push the boat out with a big-money move for Dembele.
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