Manchester United are keen on Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, but could have snapped him up on the cheap.
Manchester United are reported to have stepped up interest in Celtic striker Moussa Dembele, according to The Mail.
United scouts were in attendance as the promising forward scored a brace for France’s under-21 side against England this week, his 15th goal in his last 16 games in all competitions.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele
With Dembele on target in the Champions League already this season, he has been making quite a name for himself, and it is easy to see why United are interested.
Yet his progress should not come as a shock to Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho, in fact the Portuguese only has himself to blame for missing out on the striker.
After his sacking from Chelsea in December, Mourinho was a sporadic attendee at Fulham games, and saw Dembele in action first hand.
Fulham’s Moussa Dembele appeals for a penalty
The Mail reported at the time that one of the games Mourinho saw was the win over MK Dons, in which Dembele was on the scoresheet.
In April ahead of him taking over at Manchester United, The Sun tipped Dembele as one of Mourinho’s top five transfer targets.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele celebrates scoring their third goal
Celtic ultimately caught Mourinho and United out, sealing a deal for Dembele in the summer, just 24 hours after the Red Devils confirmed their new manager’s appointment.
With months to prepare for the role, Mourinho could quite easily have instructed the Red Devils to make their move prior to United confirming the best kept secret in football, that he would take over.
Now if he wants to sign Dembele from Celtic, Mourinho and United will have to pay an astronomical price, as opposed to the tribunal fee they would have needed to pay Fulham in the summer.
Competition for his signature has also increased, and while United have the money to easily afford the Frenchman, prising him from Celtic’s grasp so soon will not be easy.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele scores their third goal
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