Celtic’s hitman, Moussa Dembele, is unarguably one of the hottest properties in the game of football at this point of time. His excellent goal-scoring form and his predatory instincts inside the box have indeed made him an appealing commodity for many top quality sides across Europe.
The Daily Record recently reported that apart from interests from the likes of Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, Serie A outfit, Fiorentina have also joined the race in order to make him sign on the dotted line. Brendan Rodgers does need to prepare himself for the worst case scenario and here are three player he could target in order to replace the talented striker if he makes a move in the near future.
Khouma Babacar
Fiorentina’s Khouma Babacar could be an excellent acquisition for the Celts if they are really tempted to sell Dembele. Babacar has found it hard to accumulate regular game time on the pitch for the Serie A side, as he has been handed no starts so far in the Italian top division.
However, it has to be noted that the 24-year-old is more than a decent striker with pace and calibre and has smashed 3 goals in 12 substitute appearances so far and has the requisite physicality to lead the attacking setup of Rodgers’ side.
Dwight Gayle
Newcastle United’s striker, Dwight Gayle, could possibly be one of the players to be shown the exit door of St. James’ Park, for the club is desperate for funds at this stroke of hour. He hasn’t been handed 7 starts so far, whilst which he scored 4 goals and registered 1 assist.
Obviously Gayle would not come cheap but the Bhoys can invest in the 27-year-old from the bulk of fund which they are seemingly likely to get by sanctioning the sale of Dembele. Gayle has proved his credentials and would be an astute replacement.
Sardar Azmoun
In the summer, the Scottish Sun had reported that Celtic eyed Sardar Azmoun to replace the Frenchman. However, Azmoun was lured by Russian Premier League side, Rubin Kazan, in the summer as any sort of agreement between Celtic and Rostov failed to cross the line.
However, the Iranian international, who has been compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic time and again, has found the ongoing season quite a troublesome one and has managed to find the back of the net only once. With a move to the Celtic Park, the 22-year-old might be able to resurrect his career for good.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
