Will Chelsea lure Dembele from Lyon?

0:49

Dharmesh Sheth breaks down Chelsea’s chase of Moussa Dembele

Dharmesh Sheth breaks down Chelsea’s chase of Moussa Dembele

Chelsea have been linked with a January move for Lyon striker Moussa Dembele – but what are the chances of the deal getting over the line?

Sky Sports News understands Lyon have rejected a £34m bid from Chelsea for France international Dembele, with the Ligue 1 club adamant he will not be sold this month.

ESPN‘s French football expert Jonathan Johnson offers the inside line on Chelsea’s pursuit of the former Celtic and Fulham striker on the latest edition of the Transfer Talk podcast…

Moussa Dembele: The new Drogba?

“With regards to the comparison to Didier Drogba, he’s obviously not as physical as Drogba was at his peak at Chelsea but he has the potential to be a prolific goalscorer, not only in France but in the Premier League in the right team with the right service.

“He could very well be compatible alongside someone like Tammy Abraham in a two-man attack, but he also works well when he is the focal point of the attack.

“In time, I don’t doubt Dembele would prove to be a smart purchase. He’s spent time in British football so wouldn’t need much time to adapt, were he to move back.”

Does Dembele want to move?

“Dembele would be open to a move to the Premier League, if not now then at the end of the season.

“He, like everybody else at Lyon, will be disappointed with the way things have gone this season, particularly with the loss of Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide, two of their best attacking players, to season-ending injuries.

“That has made the outlook for the rest of the campaign quite bleak, so I do think Dembele would welcome a move.”

Lyon have lost Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide to season-ending injuries in recent weeks

Can Lyon be convinced to sell?

“Jean-Michel Aulas is known as being quite a tough negotiator, he always looks to strike the best deals for the club. With Lyon putting out a statement on Thursday saying Dembele was not for sale, it doesn’t look good for any club trying to prise him away.

“Aulas has basically said it’s almost impossible that Dembele goes and if he does go it will be for such a massively over-inflated price that it would give Lyon the means to recruit some players of a similar calibre to the ones they’ve lost in Depay, Reine-Adelaide and, then, Dembele.

“It’s unlikely to happen this month because it would be such a crushing blow to lose three major attacking talents within the space of a month to six weeks.

“Aulas is a smart businessman and he knows that if Dembele was to go now it would make the job for coach Rudi Garcia that more difficult.”

Right player, wrong time?

“I fear that even if Dembele is the right guy for Chelsea, it’s a case of the wrong timing because Lyon cannot afford to let go of any more of their attacking talent.

“At this moment in time, Dembele is far too important to Lyon for them to be negotiating his possible departure at such a crucial period and I imagine he would appreciate Lyon cannot afford to let him go.”

How to follow the January transfer window

Sky Sports will bring you the very latest news from the January transfer market with the return of three shows.

Start your day with Good Morning Transfers at 9am as our team of reporters bring you the latest news and insight. Transfer Talk then follows at midday delivering analysis of the biggest stories. Then join us at 7pm for the definitive round-up of the day’s news with The Transfer Show.

The Transfer Talk podcast will also be back with more expert analysis from here and across the continent. And as well as tuning into Sky Sports News, don’t miss a thing with our Transfer Centre blog.

New Year, same Super 6!

FREE TO PLAY: Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 jackpot for the sixth time this season.