Celtic’s Moussa Dembele hopes could reportedly rest on Mario Balotelli

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Ligue 1 giants Marseille are being linked with Moussa Dembele, the star man of Scottish Premiership champions Celtic.

Strangely enough, Celtic fans could find themselves taking a keen interest in Mario Balotelli’s future this summer, because the maverick Italian could have a major impact on where Moussa Dembele is playing his football next season.

Balotelli is leaving Nice on a free after two prolific years in France in which he has re-established his reputation across the continent – and even secured a return to the Italy international team.

The 27-year-old’s agent, the irrepressible Mino Raiola, is keen to find him a new club and has been pushing him very publically towards Marseille of late. Speaking to RMC, Raiola admitted that talks had taken place between Balotelli, who scored 25 goals last season, and the beaten Europa League finalists.

But why should Celtic care? Well, because Maxifoot has suggested that Balotelli is Marseille’s number one target. And should the Ligue 1 giants miss out, they have identified a couple of alternatives.

They are Porto’s Vincent Aboubakar, Sevilla’s Champions League hero Wissam Ben Yedder and Celtic’s France U21 ace Moussa Dembele.

Now, the Daily Record reported on Wednesday that Celtic have accepted that Dembele could leave this summer, two years, six trophies and 48 goals after he signed from Fulham.

But, given the choice, The Hoops would obviously want to keep their star man. And if Marseille land Balotelli, that would at least put them out of the race.