Manchester United transfer rumour: Manchester United eyeing January move for Celtic striker Moussa Dembele

Dembele has had a blistering start to the campaign

Manchester United are reportedly set to make a move for Celtic’s wonderkid Moussa Dembele in the next transfer window. Club scout David Friio was in the crowd for the U-21’s game between England and France to watch the 20-year-old, according to the Daily Mail.

Dembele produced a match-winning display as he scored two sublime goals for his side including a sensational free-kick. The French won the game 3-2, ending England U-21’s 15-game unbeaten run, and Dembele would certainly have impressed Friio.

Dembele, who is a product of French champions Paris Saint-Germain’s youth academy, joined Celtic from Fulham in June in a four-year deal and the Scottish championships had to see off competition from few of the Premier League heavyweights to secure his services. The Frenchman has made a blistering start to his Celtic career netting 16 times in 24 appearances for the club, including a brace against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, is an admirer of the youngster and he was in attendance for three of Fulham’s games last season to see the 20-year-old in action. Mourinho is keen to add Dembele to his squad but it will be really hard to lure away the youngster from Celtic Park in January. Dembele would want to remain with The Hoops and continue his progress under manager, Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic not keen on selling

Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond  recently made it clear that the club wants to keep hold of their prodigy. "We don’t need to sell any players,” he said. “Hopefully we can retain him, but our job is to have players who want to be sought by other clubs in the Premier League and elsewhere.”

With Manchester United struggling for goals recently, Mourinho is keen on signing a forward in January. However, United’s pursuit of Dembele will prove to be a bit difficult as they are not the only club who has their eyes on the teen sensation. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are all also interested in signing the youngster. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane recently affirmed that Dembele has a promising future.

Praise from Zizou

“I have played with great strikers like Ronaldo, Henry and Raul, and you knew on the biggest occasions they would win you games. Dembele is already showing that,” Zidane said. ”I understand the biggest clubs in Europe being linked with him and that will be his destination eventually. But he can still progress well at Celtic, who are in Europe.”

Quite obviously, it is just a matter of time before Dembele leaves Scotland and irrespective of when that happens, the transfer fee would certainly break the Scottish transfer record of £12.5 million.

(Video courtesy: World Of Football HD)

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