Everton are reportedly keen on Celtic striker Moussa Dembele.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele
Last week, the Daily Star reported that Everton were interested in snapping up Celtic striker Moussa Dembele should Romelu Lukaku leave Goodison Park this summer.
Lukaku, Everton’s record goalscorer in the Premier League, rejected a new contract to stay with the Toffees last week, and whilst he still has two years left on his deal with the club, many expect him to leave at the end of the season.
Finding a replacement for the Belgian international won’t be easy, but a potential replacement has emerged in the form of Celtic hero and goal machine Moussa Dembele.
The Frenchman only joined the Bhoys from Fulham last summer, but has taken Scottish football by storm with a whopping 32 goals in just 46 appearances in a Celtic shirt.
At just 20, Dembele has a huge future ahead of him, and Everton are believed to be interested in landing him this summer should Lukaku depart Goodison Park.
The problem for Ronald Koeman’s men is that Dembele, when sold, is widely expected to cost at least £30million, possibly more – and with that in mind, here are three players Everton could offer in part-exchange for Dembele in a bid to bring the price down…
James McCarthy
This would be the dream move for many, as McCarthy grew up supporting Celtic and has been seen in the stands cheering on the Bhoys this season. The Ireland international, 26, was turned by the Bhoys at a young age but has gone on to make them regret that decision having starred with Hamilton, Wigan and Everton. McCarthy has regularly been linked with a move away from Everton since Ronald Koeman’s appointment, and with midfielders such as Gareth Barry, Tom Davies, Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye and Ross Barkley at the club, he could face a real fight for first-team football – especially with so many injury worries this term. A move to Celtic would not only give him star status under Brendan Rodgers, but provide the Bhoys with added quality in the middle of the park and a boyhood fan of the club; something many fans would love to see.
Everton’s James McCarthy celebrates scoring
Aiden McGeady
Another player with ties to Celtic, McGeady progressed through the club’s academy, scoring 37 goals in 252 games for the club whilst winning three league titles. The winger moved on to Spartak Moscow and then Everton, but has been frozen out by Koeman, and was sent out on loan to Preston in August. The 30-year-old is now recapturing the form that saw him become a household name at Celtic, notching an impressive five goals and eight assists in 26 appearances for the Championship club. McGeady would seemingly like to stay at Deepdale, but the Lilywhites may struggle to afford the Ireland international, meaning Everton may look to shop him elsewhere this summer. With Patrick Roberts set to return to parent club Manchester City this summer, Celtic will need another wide man, and McGeady is certainly showing that he still has magic in his feet. Celtic may have moved on as a club since McGeady’s first spell with the club, but it may be worth offering him up and seeing how Celtic respond from an Everton perspective.
Oumar Niasse
Striker Niasse was a big-money signing for Everton in January 2016, but he has proven to be one of the club’s most notable and expensive flops in recent memory. The Senegal hitman played just seven games following his switch from Lokomotiv Moscow, failing to find the net, before being sent down to the Everton under-23’s by Koeman. Now on loan at Hull, Niasse has hit four goals in ten games for the Tigers, and is getting close to his best form again. The 26-yea-old still has no future at Goodison Park, and with Celtic needing a striker should Dembele leave, Everton should take that opportunity to offer up Niasse. Quick and strong when in top form, Niasse could score goals in Scotland and would give Celtic an instant replacement for Dembele, whilst allowing Everton to get him off the books. McCarthy would be the top choice for the Bhoys, but Niasse would at least give them something to think about.
Would you like to see Everton sign Dembele?
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