French outlet Foot Mercato claim Premier League quintet Everton, West Ham, Wolves, Fulham and Nottingham Forest have seen moves turned down by Lyon striker Moussa Dembele this summer, who is keen to remain at his current side.
Dembele, 26, enjoyed arguably his best season last term. He scored 22 goals in 35 appearances for Lyon, after returning from a loan at Atletico Madrid. Of those 22 goals, 21 came in 30 Ligue 1 outings. He laid on five assists.
But the 25-time France Under-21 international has now entered the final 12 months of his contract at Lyon. A move is likely. Lyon will have to sell this summer if they want to recoup any of the £20million they paid Celtic in 2018.
The report claims that there is plenty of interest in him. Clubs in Italy and the Middle East are looking at him, including Juventus. But the most interest originates from England, and the quintet of Premier League clubs he has turned down.
Everton, Wolves, Forest and West Ham moves turned down by Dembele
Dembele would be a wonderful signing for most Premier League clubs. A striker that scored at a better ratio of one every two games in an ever-growing French league is certainly not something to be sniffed at. He might be expensive.
But ultimately, Dembele is a Champions League striker. He has shown that during spells with Lyon, and at Celtic. That is probably the reasoning behind his decision to reject the clubs listed. Dembele will feel they are beneath him.
Following his goalscoring form last season, that is probably fair. The striker is likely to stay put unless a big clubs come calling, and then leave Lyon on a free – attracting more suitors and a bigger pay cheque given he will be a free agent.
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