Talks have reportedly opened between Celtic’s hotshot striker, Moussa Dembele, and AC Milan, but why didn’t Arsenal sign him for free when they were linked last summer?
- AC Milan lead the race to sign Celtic’s Moussa Dembele
- Why would Arsenal want Celtic’s hitman?
- Arsenal turned down chance to sign £40m striker for free last summer
While Arsenal, as well as Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United, have apparently been ‘tracking’ Dembele recently, the Gunners were also linked with a move for the 20-year-old when his contract with Fulham ended last summer.
After three years at Craven Cottage, the Frenchman moved on and despite being previously linked with a move to Tottenham, who missed out because they would loan him back to Fulham, Dembele eventually signed a four-year deal with Celtic.
The star has gone on to take the Scottish Premiership by storm, scoring 32 goals in 49 appearances (all comps) and helping Celtic go an entire season unbeaten in the league.
Celtic boss, Brendan Rodgers, seems to think he’ll stay in Scotland but admits the lure of football elsewhere could prove too strong.
“I believed when Moussa came that he probably had two-year cycle,” Rodgers told The Scotsman.
“That’s what I saw. For me, I still think that’s the case. All the conversations I have with him I have no doubt he loves it here.
“He needs another year of Champions League experience and the confidence of scoring goals and playing for such a big club, and probably then it’ll be time to fly.
“That’s the modern game. The big clubs in Europe are always crying out for a centre forward.
“It’s just a natural process where if you’re on X amount of money and someone offers you Y amount of money, and the club get offered a ridiculous amount of money then you have to respect that.
“That’s unfortunate. I don’t like it. For me, this is a big club and we should never have to sell anyone. But because of money that is not the reality.”
Now, the striker has a hefty £40m price tag, despite being available on a free last season, which begs the question: why didn’t Arsenal move for him then?
Although the term ‘free’ in this case isn’t quite accurate, as Fulham would still receive a fee through tribunal should he move to another English club, he would have cost significantly less than £40m.