Moussa Dembele: Pundit discusses possible Chelsea move
Chelsea have been dealt a blow by Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas, who has revealed that Moussa Dembele wants to stay at the club this month. The Blues are ready to pay up to £34million for the striker but may now have to wait until the summer to conclude the deal.
Aulas released a statement on the Lyon website confirming that the club will not consider selling the Frenchman this month, after he declared he wants to stay put.
Lyon have struggled to perform this season amid a lack of stability off the field and currently sit 12th in the Ligue 1 table, with their Champions League status currently under threat for next season.
The club have also lost star talents Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide to long-term injuries and therefore cannot afford to lose any other players in the transfer window.
To boost spirits amongst supporters, Aulas revealed that Dembele will not be joining Chelsea or any other club this month in a statement on the club’s website.
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“They are not pieces of good news that are coming from Spain, but they are pieces of news… Moussa Dembele will not leave because he wants to stay to win something with Lyon.
“There have been offers for him and for other players but none of those that we want to keep will leave in January.”
Chelsea are believed to have tabled an offer for the former Fulham and Celtic man, which forced Lyon into another statement last week which confirmed their stance on a sale.
“Olympique Lyonnais has taken note of certain information relayed by the media suggesting that Moussa Dembele could interest other clubs during this transfer window,” it read.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has made Moussa Dembele a January transfer target (Image: GETTY)
“OL would like to reaffirm its wish, as in the summer of 2019, to keep Moussa Dembele.
“The club has full confidence in Moussa and counts in particular on him to build a successful team for the seasons to come.”
Frank Lampard wants to add further firepower to his frontline as the futures of Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud remain uncertain.
It’s unlikely that both will be granted exits but one could be heading out the exit door this month, with a host of clubs interested.
Express Sport understands that Timo Werner, Jadon Sancho, Wilfried Zaha and Ben Chilwell are all on Lampard’s shortlist but moves for any of those targets will be put on hold until the summer.