Brighton are keen to add a striker in the January transfer window and the top target seems to be Celtic’s Moussa Dembele.
The 21-year-old French striker has struggled to start games this season with fellow striker Leigh Griffiths being preferred to the Frenchmen.
There were reports yesterday that Brighton had agreed £18 million pound transfer fee according to Sky Sports, this was rubbished by inside sources at both clubs.
Last night The Guardian put out an article, with Celtic holding out for at least £20 million or £25 million to get their main target.
Also last night, The Daily Mail also put out another article, with them holding out for £25 million as they are under no pressure to sell the French U21 international.
Dembele started his youth career at French outfit, Paris Saint Germain (PSG) from the age of eight for four years until 2012 when he joined Fulham’s youth academy. He was only in their youth team for a year before he then was promoted into the senior team at seventeen.
The French striker was at Craven Cottage for three years and made 56 appearances scoring 15 goals. He then joined Celtic in 2016 on a four-year-deal and cost around £500,000. Since joining Celtic, last year he has made 40 appearances and scored 21 goals.
Dembele has also been part of the France youth team from U16 level all the way to U21 level.
Brighton will have to be aware though as the striker is also thought to be interesting fellow Premier League sides West Ham United and Everton also reportedly being keen to purchase the striker.
The Seagulls are looking to add a prolific striker to their ranks with Glenn Murray and Hemed only having managed eight goals between them this season. Albion are looking for a striker that can score 10-15 goals to help boost their Premier League survival this season.
Dembele is not the only striker Brighton have been linked with. In the Daily Mail’s article mentioned above, Albion are though to also ready to join the race to sign Danny Ings on loan from Liverpool. The striker has had numerous injury problems and is now struggling to make the matchday squad with him being behind the likes of Roberto Firmino and Dominic Solanke in the striking department.
Jurgen Kloop is happy to let the striker go out on loan in order to get game time and see if he can still cut in the Premier League after all the injury problems he has had. The only risk with Ings Is injuries, as he quite injury prone and Brighton need a striker who they can rely on to stay fit for the rest of the season.
However, Brighton decide to purchase, Chris Hughton will be looking for a striker who can defend from the front and score the goals needed to keep The Seagulls up.
