Newcastle United are weighing up a raid on Lyon for Moussa Dembele, with his Ligue 1 side open to selling the striker during the January transfer window, according to the Daily Mail.
The Magpies are keen to offer boss Eddie Howe another attacking option in the mid-season market to improve their Premier League survival hopes. Newcastle will spend Christmas in the relegation zone on 10-points after 18 games, having only taken one win so far.
United have also been heavily reliant on Callum Wilson’s goals to keep them within reach of safety. The 29-year-old has scored six of the Toon’s 18, while only Allan Saint-Maximin has additionally scored multiple with three. Eight of their players have so far scored once.
Club-record £40m man Joelinton is one of the Magpies’ men with one Premier League goal this season. Dwight Gayle, meanwhile, is yet to score after playing just 21-minutes to date.
Newcastle are now considering approaching Lyon to discuss a transfer for Dembele to add depth in Howe’s attack. The United hierarchy have drawn up a list of possible targets, but they are struggling to lure some of their targets to Tyneside amid the threat of relegation.
The Toon may, therefore, favour loan deals, and Lyon are not opposed to Dembele leaving the Groupama Stadium. Les Gones will listen to all suitable offers for the 25-year-old after blocking a second loan spell with Atletico Madrid during the last summer market.
Dembele working his way into contention for Newcastle transfer after Lyon return
Dembele joined Atletico on a half-season loan last January with an option to buy, but they chose against purchasing him. The Independent noted the temporary side of the deal was worth £1.3m with a £27m buy-out clause, plus £4.5m in add-ons and 10% of any future fee.
Lyon paid Celtic £20m to sign Dembele in 2018 on a five-year contract that expires in 2023. He has since made 121 appearances for the French side, scoring 49 goals and assisting 15.
Dembele also captained Lyon in their goalless draw with Lille on December 12 in his latest outing. It was his 12th game of the campaign and first Ligue 1 start since returning from a fractured right fibula. He did not score, but has proven he can cause defences problems.
“Moussa was everything with his power and pace,” his former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers once said, via the Daily Record. “His opponent at centre-back was strong, but Moussa is so powerful with ability, touch and workrate. He was excellent.”
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