Chelsea ready to pay £34m for Lyon striker
Chelsea are willing to pay up to £34m for Moussa Dembele, Sky Sports News understands, but Lyon are confident of keeping hold of their striker in the January transfer window.
The former Celtic forward, who has scored 30 goals since moving to Ligue 1 from Celtic for £20m 18 months ago, is one of the options Chelsea are weighing up in January.
However, the French club released a statement on Thursday outlining their intent not to let the 23-year-old leave.
It read: “Olympique Lyonnais has taken note of certain information relayed by the media suggesting that Moussa Dembele could interest other clubs during this transfer window.
“We 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.”
One source said on Thursday that Chelsea have had a £34m bid rejected.
Olivier Giroud is likely to leave Chelsea during the transfer window and Frank Lampard has been tracking Dembele for some time.
Sky Sports News has been told Lampard sees similarities between Dembele and former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba.
Dembele enjoyed a successful spell with Celtic after joining the club from Fulham in 2016 under former boss Brendan Rodgers.
Moussa Dembele: Chelsea willing to pay £34m but Lyon want to keep striker #ChelseaFC https://t.co/KOtlDizTnj pic.twitter.com/XWCWqvcaVg
— ChelseaFC Report (@ChelseaFC_Fanly) January 2, 2020
Read Also: Shearer gives promising Abraham verdict despite difficult Chelsea role
He won two Scottish Premierships, two League Cups and two Scottish Cups at Parkhead before a move to Lyon in August 2018.
Aston Villa have enquired after Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi on loan, but Sky Sports News understands he is highly unlikely to leave Stamford Bridge and wants to stay and fight for his place under boss Lampard.