Sylvain Ripoll comments on Celtic star Moussa Dembele’s future

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Celtic star Moussa Dembele has been linked with a move to Premier League club Brighton in the January transfer window.

France Under 21 manager Sylvain Ripoll has hailed Celtic striker Moussa Dembele as a ‘great goalscorer’, and says that he can rediscover his old form and boost his market value if he remains at the Glasgow club.

Dembele joined Celtic in 2016 and scored 32 goals in his debut season for the Bhoys. However, he hasn’t been at his best this season (with injury playing part as well) and has managed eight goals in all competitions so far.

The 21-year-old has been linked with a £20 million move to Premier League club Brighton during the January transfer window.

Chris Hughton, the Brighton manager, has publicly admitted that he is admirer of the player, but as of now Celtic have not received any formal bids for Dembele.

Ripoll, 46, says that the injuries picked up by the player has had a negative impact on Dembele’s performances.

While he says that he doesn’t know what is going to happen in the transfer window, but expects Dembele to move to a very big club.

“I understand that Brendan Rodgers wants to keep his player,” said Ripoll, as quoted by the Evening Times.

“If I was him I would think the same. But I don’t know what is going to happen. Perhaps he (Dembele) will go to a very, very big club. But Celtic is a very big club for him to play at and score goals at.”

Meanwhile, Brighton have signed PSV Eindhoven striker Jurgen Locadia on Friday, and probably they won’t make any formal approach for Dembele this month.