Crystal Palace reportedly failed with a deadline day move for Moussa Dembele.
According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic rebuffed a late enquiry from Crystal Palace over a possible deal to sign Moussa Dembele on deadline day.
Celtic had already tied up three signings heading into the final day of business, having snapped up Marvin Compper, Lewis Morgan and Charly Musonda, but still found room to bring in two more players.
The Bhoys swooped to late in the day to snap up Dundee duo Scott Bain and Jack Hendry, bringing Rodgers’ January influx to five – and they also had to fend off late interest in one of their star players.
Reports from The Scottish Sun suggest that Crystal Palace made a last-gasp move to try and sign Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, but were told he was not for sale.
It’s claimed that Palace didn’t make a concrete bid for Dembele, merely asking whether a deal was possible, but with Leigh Griffiths out injured, Celtic shut that conversation down quickly.
Palace did end up signing FC Midtjylland hitman Alexander Sorloth on deadline day after missing out on new West Ham United signing Jordan Hugill, with the Norwegian coming at a fraction of the price of any Dembele deal.
That means that Dembele – barring any surprise move to China – will be staying with Celtic until the summer, despite rumours throughout January that he was disgruntled and ready to leave.
Celtic may well have to face another transfer saga over the Frenchman’s future in the summer, but for now, the Bhoys will be delighted to have kept hold of the striker, who has hit 42 goals in 73 games for the club since his 2016 move from Fulham.
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