Brighton must smash transfer record to sign Moussa Dembele

  • Reports suggested that Brighton had agreed an £18m fee for Moussa Dembele
  • However, Celtic want £25m if they are to let the striker leave the club in January
  • Brighton, Newcastle and Stoke among the clubs keen on Liverpool’s Danny Ings 

Brighton will have to smash their club record transfer fee to bring Celtic striker Moussa Dembele to the Premier League in January.

Brendan Rodgers’ Scottish Premiership champions still want £25million for Dembele, despite reports on Monday that an £18m fee had been agreed between the clubs.

Senior sources at both Brighton and Celtic were puzzled by the Christmas Day claims, with one insider describing it as ‘utter rubbish’ and another as ‘nonsense’.

Brighton must smash their transfer record to sign Celtic striker Moussa Dembele next month

Brighton boss Chris Hughton is desperate to add to his attack and Dembele has long been a top target.

Under no financial pressure to sell the 21-year-old, Celtic do not want to consider bids of less than £25m. Brighton’s current transfer record stands at £16m, which they spent on Jose Izquierdo last summer, and they will likely try to seal Dembele for closer to £20m.

Dembele has scored 21 goals in 40 Premiership games for Celtic. Asked about the France Under 21 international before Christmas, Hughton said: ‘He is a very good player and has had a very good season but he’s not our player.

‘He is one of probably 100 names you could mention that if I had an opportunity to want them, then you probably would.

Chris Hughton is determined to strengthen his forward line when the transfer window opens

Chris Hughton is determined to strengthen his forward line when the transfer window opens

‘But he’s not our player, like anyone else you could throw into the mix.’

Meanwhile, Brighton are also ready to join the race to sign Liverpool’s Danny Ings on loan in January.

Newcastle, Stoke and West Brom have also looked at Ings, with Liverpool are ready to let him leave temporarily as he battles back to full fitness following two serious knee surgeries.

Since signing for Liverpool in June 2015, Ings has been held back by injuries and has appeared only eight times in the Premier League.

Danny Ings could leave Liverpool on loan amid interest from Brighton, Newcastle and Stoke

Danny Ings could leave Liverpool on loan amid interest from Brighton, Newcastle and Stoke

 



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