Report: Arsenal make contact over player Pep Guardiola once called ‘exceptional’

Arsenal have reportedly rekindled their interest in Moussa Dembele and have made contact with his representatives over a potential Emirates Stadium switch, according to L’Equipe.

The 23-year-old has been in sensational form for Lyon, claiming 22 goals and seven assists from 42 games in all competitions this season.

His overall tally for Lyon stands at 42 goals and 13 assists from 88 appearances, more than repaying the reported £20million fee the Ligue 1 club paid Celtic for his services in 2018.

Dembele thoroughly impressed at Parkhead too, with 51 goals and 18 assists from 94 games, and at Fulham, the club where he came through the ranks, with 19 goals and nine assists as a teenager.

Arsenal, meanwhile, face a difficult summer in the transfer window both in terms of potential incomings and possible outgoings, with uncertainty over the future of strike duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

L’Equipe claims that Inter Milan are looking at Lacazette, and although the former Lyon sharpshooter seemingly isn’t keen on a move to the Nerazzurri, Arsenal will look at Dembele as a potential replacement in case he changes his mind.

The report has added that the Gunners are in talks with the striker’s entourage and have scouted him this season, Le10 Sport claiming they were interested in him ahead of the January transfer window.

TBR View:

Aside from Dembele’s talents, his consistency stands out – he has been prolific everywhere he’s played and is only getting better with age.

In 2016, Pep Guardiola was asked by the Daily Mail about Manchester City’s reported interest in Dembele at the time.

While he remained coy on the speculation, he said: “The quality (in Dembele) is there. He is an exceptional player.”

With Lacazette having two years left on his contract, Arsenal are in a safer position with him than with Aubameyang, but if he does go, Dembele would certainly be a more than adequate replacement.

Have something to tell us about this article?
Let us know