In-demand Fulham striker Moussa Dembele has completed a transfer to Scottish Premier League champions Celtic, by signing a four-year contract.
The 19-year-old’s contract at Craven Cottage expires at the end of June, whereby he will move to Parkhead. Under the Bosman ruling Fulham are entitled to a compensation fee which has already been agreed.
Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic said in April after a 3-0 defeat to Brentford, “I am not sure if Dembele is going to be my player next season. I didn’t see him so focused for this game,” later adding, “Dembele is one of my two best players. I [usually] prefer to use him all the time” Jokanovic said.
Dembele told Celtic’s website regarding his transfer: “As a young footballer you have get as much experience as you can to get to the next level and at Celtic I know I can win trophies and play European football, and it’s a massive club as well, so it feels good. Last year I followed the Scottish league, so I know the Celtic team.”
Considered one of the country’s most promising teenage talents, the Frenchman formed a formidable partnership with Scotsman Ross McCormack last season with the duo providing the source for 51 of Fulham’s 66 league goals.
Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolfsburg had scouted Dembele, who moved to the Whites in 2012 from Paris Saint-Germain, with interest in his strike partners also a cause for concern for Jokanovic.
Despite the gain of extending McCormack’s contract to 2020 in February, interest from Aston Villa has made the rounds in the media with rumours Roberto Di Matteo may approve a £12m bid.
Target man Matt Smith has been on Wolves‘ watchlist since early March, with Kenny Jackett failing in an attempt to bring him to Molineux on loan. A fortnight ago Fulham rejected a £750,000 bid, leaving Cauley Woodrow as the only forward sure to start the 2016/17 season for the Londoners.
