According to reports West Ham United are still interested in Celtic striker Moussa Dembele and Manuel Pellegrini could hatch a cunning plan to land him.
West Ham have wasted little time looking to improve their side since appointing Pellegrini as David Moyes’ successor and are interested in Celtic striker Dembele according to The Sportsman.
The pacy French striker has interested West Ham ever since his Fulham days and has 32 goals in 49 games for Celtic.
An injury-hit second season with the Hoops under Brendan Rodgers has not dampened the Hammers’ appetite for the player according to The Sportsman and Dembele has been in fine scoring form for France’s U21s of late scoring four goals in his last five – his eighth in total.
According to The Sportsman, Celtic would be open to a ‘silly’ offer of more than £21 million from West Ham for the 21-year-old, with the likes of Southampton, Brighton and Everton also said to be interested.
But could Pellegrini gain an edge over rival suitors by offering outcast midfield playmaker Robert Snodgrass to Rodgers as a makeweight in the deal?
Gallowgate-born Snodgrass was coveted by Celtic as a youngster back in 2003 but chose to move to Livingston for a more realistic chance of first team football.
His career since has taken him to some big clubs such as Leeds United, West Ham and Aston Villa.
But the Scotland international failed to establish himself at West Ham after a big £10 million move in January 2017.
He was sent on loan to Villa last summer but fell just short of helping the club back to the big time after their playoff final defeat to Dembele’s old club Fulham last weekend.
Snodgrass would be worth at least £6-7 million in any deal and could get Dembele’s cash value down as low as £15 million while also getting Snodgrass off the wage bill.
It is a deal which could suit all parties as West Ham need more pace and youthful exuberance up front while Snodgrass would by a real coup for Rodgers in the Scottish Premiership and still has at least three years left in him at the top level as he has never relied on pace.
The Scotland international would add goals, assists and workrate to the Hoops, who will be looking to protect the dynasty Rodgers is creating at Celtic Park amid what is expected to be renewed competition from rivals Rangers under the management of Steven Gerrard.
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