According to Telegraph, Arsenal are keen on the services of Moussa Dembele. They have looked into the possibility of signing the Lyon forward, who is currently on loan at Atletico Madrid. The Spanish side even has an option to sign him permanently for a fee of £30 million, although it remains unclear whether Diego Simeone would want to activate that clause.
Moussa Dembele’s Disappointing 2020/21 Campaign
Moussa Dembele joined Atletico Madrid in January, in a short-term loan deal. He was brought in to offer the additional attacking firepower to Diego Simeone, amid fears over the fitness of Luis Suarez.
Unfortunately, the forward just hasn’t got going in Spain, making just five league appearances. He never really managed to become one of Simeone’s main weapons going forward, falling behind Suarez and most recently, Angel Correa in the pecking order.
Dembele also endured a difficult campaign in Ligue 1, finding the back of the net just once in 16 appearances. The Frenchman does have an excellent overall record in the competition, having netted 45 goals in just over 100 competitive matches since joining Olympique Lyon in 2018.
Despite his struggles in the 2020/21 campaign, Dembele is still regarded as a talented forward, boasting excellent tenacity, pace and aggression that has made him such a sought-after player in Europe. He has also mustered a lot of experience at the highest level of football, during his time at Celtic, Lyon and Atletico Madrid.
Is Dembele A Risky Option For Arsenal?
Arsenal are, no doubt, in need of reinforcements in the offensive department. They are braced to offload both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah in the upcoming summer transfer window, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasn’t really got going under the leadership of Mikel Arteta.
It accentuates the need for a star forward with considerable experience and a proven track record that can instantly help the team challenge for silverware next season onwards.
While Dembele certainly is a talented forward, his recent struggles do put question marks on whether or not he can replicate his performances in the Premier League.
Given the current nature of the transfer market, the Gunners simply cannot take any risks, having had to bear massive disappointment on marquee signings like Thomas Partey and Nicolas Pepe.
Dembele, in that regard, could be a risky option, although a lot could depend on how Arsenal manage to offload other fringe players like Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, as their potential sales should serve as a financial boost for the club.
