Arsenal are reportedly preparing a move for Celtic ace Moussa Dembele.
According to The Express, Arsenal will pursue a big-money move for Celtic striker Moussa Dembele if Alexis Sanchez leaves the Emirates Stadium this summer.
The Gunners have boosted their attacking options with the signing of Lyon hotshot Alexandre Lacazette, but manager Arsene Wenger will have some concerns over the future of Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is substituted as manager Arsene Wenger looks on
With Sanchez out of contract next summer, Arsenal may be forced to sell the Chilean star now in order to avoid losing him for nothing in 2018, and that would leave a huge whole in the Arsenal attack.
Now, The Express report that, if Sanchez does indeed leave North London this summer, then manager Wenger has identified Celtic ace Moussa Dembele as his preferred replacement.
It’s claimed that Arsenal plan to bid for Dembele if Sanchez goes, and whilst he is currently valued at around £30million, Celtic could end up asking for even more money given the astronomical fees in the Premier League this summer.
Dembele, 21, only joined Celtic from Fulham last summer, but he quickly became a hero at Celtic Park with a superb record of 32 goals in 48 games for the Bhoys in all competitions last season.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele in action
The French Under-21 international looks set for a huge career, and whilst he still has three years left on his Celtic contract, a move to the Premier League seems almost inevitable at some stage.
Should Dembele join Arsenal, we could see Wenger slightly tweak his system, as he could use Mesut Ozil behind Dembele and Lacazette in a 3-4-1-2 system, whereas he has been using Sanchez and Ozil behind a striker in a 3-4-2-1 – and if they can convince Celtic to sell this summer, Dembele could be Wenger’s latest developmental project.
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