Transfer Centre

Chelsea, Manchester United handed Moussa Dembele transfer boost?

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 11 May 2020

Chelsea and Manchester United appear to have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Moussa Dembele as Jean-Michel Aulas acknowledges Lyon's players may seek a move away.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has admitted that it will be difficult to keep hold of striker Moussa Dembele this summer amid links with Chelsea and Manchester United.

The 23-year-old is rumoured to have been identified by both Premier League clubs as the ideal player to lead their line next season.

Dembele has scored 22 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions this season and is under contract with Lyon for another three years.

Chelsea and United have been handed a boost in their pursuit of the Frenchman, however, as Aulas concedes that it will be tricky persuading players to stay at Lyon after the club missed out on a European finish in Ligue 1 for the first time since 1997.

"I am going to do everything to keep the players," he told Le Progres.

"But players who are programmed to play in Europe may want to go elsewhere because we don't have European football."

Houssem Aouar is another Lyon player attracting interest from heavyweight clubs across Europe, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal said to be lining up a move.