Scottish Premiership champions Celtic accepted a £20m bid from Ligue 1 side Lyon for star striker Moussa Dembele last summer.
Chris Sutton has suggested that Celtic simply don’t carry the same attacking threat since Moussa Dembele left for Lyon last summer, describing his former team as one dimensional when speaking on BT Sport (28 April, 5:00pm).
Neil Lennon’s side are on the verge of an eighth successive Scottish Premiership title but their recent form has left a lot to be desired. The Hoops limped to a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday after failing to score in stalemates against both Hibernian and Livingston.
Celtic have looked a little toothless throughout a season that could still end with another domestic treble, lacking inspiration in attack on too many occasions.
And Sutton believes this is down to the absence of Dembele, who joined Lyon in a £20 million in August (Independent).
“They’re a one-trick pony. I think the Dembele situation was the biggest (reason),” the former Chelsea and Blackburn striker said.
“Brendan said he wouldn’t sell him unless he got a replacement.
“Celtic can only play one way. When was the last time a Celtic centre-forward scored a header? I can’t remember. When did they score from a set piece?”
Odsonne Edouard has a fine goal-scoring record this season but he still lacks the skill and physicality of Dembele, who has shone after a slow start at Lyon.
The France U21 international has scored 19 goals in all competitions for Bruno Genesio’s side, making his £20 million fee look like money well spent.
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