Scottish Premiership giants Celtic will again have to field offers for Moussa Dembele, but Championship club Sunderland could have a say in his future.
There are plenty of differences between Wahbi Khazri and Moussa Dembele.
But, in recent months, the Tunisian winger has been playing a role more akin to that of Celtic’s talismanic centre-forward. Since leaving Sunderland and joining Ligue 1 side Rennes on loan last summer, Khazri has been converted into more of a natural number nine – with fantastic results.
The 27-year-old has scored nine goals in 19 games in France’s top flight this season.
Sunderland, who are heading to League One as things stand and are desperate to cash in on some of their most sellable assets, will almost certainly listen to offers in an attempt to claw back some of the £9 million they paid Bordeaux in January 2016.
But could a Sunderland sale be good news for Celtic?
Marseille tried to sign Dembele last summer before Celtic made it clear that they would not sell but, according to the front page of Le Foot (14 March), they are keen to make another move this summer with a top class striker seen as the final piece of the club’s jigsaw.
Although if Marseille have turned their attentions to Khazri, who will obviously come far cheaper than the £20 million-plus Dembele, the Hoops could perhaps afford to breathe a little easier.
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