Former Celtic man Scott McDonald expresses his views on Moussa Dembele’s exit

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Moussa Dembele left Celtic to join Lyon on transfer deadline day.

Former Celtic player Scott McDonald feels the club have lost their best striker in Moussa Dembele. The BBC reports that McDonald says he was surprised that Celtic let him go without a replacement already lined up.

There had been plenty of speculation of Dembele’s future at Celtic Park, but it appeared the wantaway striker was set to remain at the Scottish Premiership champions after an initial bid was turned down.

But late into transfer window deadline day, Celtic received an offer of £19.7 million (BBC) from Lyon – a figure they found difficult to refuse, after it emerged the French striker was pushing for an exit.

Commenting on Dembele’s transfer to the French giants, McDonald suggests the Hoops may find life challenging given that the club only has two recognised strikers.

“It’s an amazing amount of money. But they’ve lost, I believe, their best striker at this moment in time and haven’t found a replacement. To even be thinking about turning it down just shows you what Celtic’s position is financially. But Celtic fans won’t thank you for that right now,” McDonald said.

“There will be people concerned at the moment about whether they can go with two strikers up until January. I’m hugely surprised. Everything that came out yesterday and the day before was that he wasn’t going to be sold.”

The profit Celtic have made on a striker who wanted to leave the club is quite incredible, and therefore from a financial point of view it’s a good deal for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Having said that, the club have arguably lost their best striker and the timing of it all isn’t the best – what with the matter of an Old Firm derby against an unbeaten Rangers side on Sunday.

The former Fulham man has been a pivotal figure for Celtic since his move from west London, but in Odsonne Edouard the Scottish champions have a player just as capable of filling the role upfront.

Where Celtic may struggle, initially, is from their lack of strength in depth – as an injury to either Edouard or Leigh Griffiths could leave them without an attacker capable of changing the game from off the bench.