Southampton transfer target Moussa Dembele seems certain to leave Olympique Lyon this summer and return to the Premier League, but it seems that it will be a last minute departure with both club and player seemingly holding out for the best deal.
The Moussa Dembele saga seemed to have gone cold in the last couple of weeks, however there has been a surprising new development with Manchester United being touted as about to launch a bid for the striker.
The Manchester Evening News claim that Dembele's representatives have been contacted by United's about the potential for a move to Old Trafford.
The Paper goes on to say that several clubs are monitoring Dembele while the frontman is understood to have turned down Everton this summer amid further interest from Villarreal and other European teams. Sources close to Dembele suggest he will only move to the 'right club' and on terms which suit his ongoing development.
This doesn't sound good for Saints with the number of high profile clubs being linked especially United, but the glimmer of hope is in the final sentence of the above paragraph, would joining Saints be a good step in his ongoing development rather than Everton & United, two clubs in turmoil where expectation is high.
In truth i am surprised that Manchester United are interested, with a year left on his contract Dembele is priced to go, but even allowing for that his transfer value is still only around £20 million even with a couple of years left.
Would United fans really feel that their club is moving forward if they are trying to buy strikers in this price bracket.
I feel in this one there is a little bit of hype from both Olympique Lyon trying to drum up interest and a bidding war, as well as the players agent, who will be trying to push up his client's potential salary as well as find him a bigger club than currently being linked.
Either way it is not good news for Saints who if they want Dembele could find themselves going right to the last days of the transfer window.