Arsenal have sent scouts to track Lyon star Moussa Dembele this season but they now face a battle with Manchester United, who will watch the striker at home to Porto on Thursday.
That’s according to Foot Mercato, who report talent spotters for the Red Devils will attend the Europa League last 16 meeting at the Groupama Stadium. Old Trafford chiefs are keen to run the rule over the 25-year-old as they weigh up fresh attacking talent for next term.
Edison Cavani, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard face uncertain futures with Manchester United. So, the club have tasked their scouts with reporting feedback on a raft of potential targets including Dembele, who the Red Devils have already sought to sign several times.
Manchester United are very fond of Dembele and will scout him when Lyon host Porto in the second-leg of their Europa League last 16 tie. They also observed him in the first-leg and against Lorient earlier this month, as he scored one of 10 goals for the season so far.
Arsenal, likewise, have scouted Dembele regularly this season as they consider a transfer for the Lyon star. Other unnamed Premier League sides are also keen, as the £20m former Celtic striker will enter the final year of his contract with Les Gones at the end of the term.
Arsenal face Man Utd battle after snubbing Lyon star Moussa Dembele in 2021
Dembele penned a five-year contract with Lyon when the Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target joined from Celtic in 2018. He has since amassed 55 goals and 10 assists in 131 games in all competitions, including six goals over his last eight Ligue 1 appearances.
Arsenal had considered a move to sign the former France youth international last summer, too. The Telegraph reported in May that the Gunners were weighing up a move as Atletico Madrid were at the time unsure of triggering a £30m buy option in their loan agreement.
The Colchoneros eventually opted not to but as Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette also stayed at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta elected against pursing a transfer for Dembele. Yet with both out of contract this June, he may now reunite the forward with Kieran Tierney.
“He is brilliant,” Tierney said of Dembele, via the Glasgow Times, while together at Celtic. “I remember one game where I fired a ball up to him and he took it on the chest and made a terrible ball from me look so simple. It actually finished up making me look good.”
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