Everton are reportedly bringing forward plans to sign Lyon striker Moussa Dembele this month to add goals to their side with Dembele out of contract in the summer – a player that Alan Stubbs urged the Toffees to sign back in 2017.
Dembele, 26, is struggling at Lyon. He was incredible last season, scoring 22 goals and laying on five assists in 36 games. But this term, he has just two goals in 15 games. For Lyon’s last two outings, he remained an unused substitute.
That is despite Lyon needing a goal in a 0-0 draw against Nantes, and then a 2-1 loss to Strasbourg. It is as if Lyon are trying to force Dembele out of the club this month – preventing the club from losing Dembele on a free transfer.
French site Foot Mercato have reported that Everton wanted to sign Dembele on a free in the summer. However, due to a lack of goals up top – despite the return of Dom Calvert-Lewin from injury – they are planning to move now.
Speaking to BT Sport back in 2017 when Dembele was still at Celtic, ex-Everton centre-back Stubbs said – as per The Mail – that Everton needed a player like Dembele. It came after Everton sold Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United.
“I think Everton are crying out for that type of striker. They need someone who is big, strong, powerful, and obviously scores loads of goals. He’d be a good fit for Everton right now,” Stubbs said in 2017, about a young Dembele.
Everton plan to sign Dembele: Stubbs urged Toffees to sign him in 2017
Dembele would be a cheap, yet impressive signing. The Toffees are not flush with cash and if they are going to bring in a new signing in the final third, then signing Dembele makes sense. Lyon are likely to let him go for a pretty small fee.
Media Foot report that a fee of just £7million would be required to land Dembele. Aston Villa and Manchester United have expressed interest in signing the striker. Now, he could arrive at Everton to help in their fight against relegation.
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