Moussa Dembele will leave Lyon in July when his contract expires amid interest from Premier League duo Aston Villa and Everton, the Ligue 1 club’s director of football Vincent Ponsot says in quotes reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
From a player’s perspective, it is easy to understand the attraction behind becoming a free-agent. Dembele, come the summer, will have his pick of the clubs. Free to decide his destiny.
Don’t be surprised if the Frenchman ends up receiving a far bigger pay-packet at his new employer than he otherwise would have either, much of money saved up due to the absence of a transfer fee instead ending in Dembele’s own pocket via a substantial signing-on clause.
As Juventus fans will tell you – £250,000-a-week Aaron Ramsey anyone? – high profile ‘free’ signings are rarely ever ‘free’.
Everton, per The Mirror, are fans of Dembele. The Toffees have scored some of the fewest goals in the Premier League. And Dembele, who netted 22 times for Lyon in 2021/22, should be an immediate upgrade on Neal Maupay and Ellis Simms, while easing the burden upon Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s aching limbs.
Aston Villa are another keen on the one-time Celtic talisman (FootMercato). Villa sold Danny Ings to West Ham in January and, with youngsters Jhon Duran and Cameron Archer unproven in the top-flight, could welcome the chance to bring in some extra experience.
Will Everton or Aston Villa sign Lyon’s Moussa Dembele
Lyon paid £20 million to sign Dembele from the Hoops back in 2018. And Ponsot is understandably disappointed to learn that Les Gones will see no return on that eye-watering investment.
“It’s not a good situation for us to know that he’ll be on a free at the end of the season. We spent 22 million euros on him. (Dembele leaving for nothing) is a great regret,” Ponsot grumbles.
“More and more players are released at the end of the contract. Obviously, it is their right (not to extend).”
Everton’s chances of luring the former Fulham youngster back to England, of course, rest upon whether Sean Dyche can guide the Toffees away from relegation danger. Dembele has already turned down a move to fellow strugglers Southampton this year. Presumably, due to a fear of ending up in the Championship.
“That would be a good striker (for Everton),” former England international Darren Bent tells talkSPORT.
“(Dembele) is a goalscorer. He hasn’t been prolific this season but, last season, he was fantastic.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
