Dembele 2.0: £10m star is open to signing for Celtic on Deadline Day
da casino： Celtic are looking to bolster their options in the number nine position before the end of the summer transfer window tonight, with Adam Idah possibly on his way to Swansea City.
da cassino： The Hoops are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Anderlecht number nine Kasper Dolberg as a replacement, of sorts, for the Ireland international.
He has scored 22 goals in all competitions for the Belgian side since the start of last season, per Sofascore, and could be the main man up front for Brendan Rodgers this season.
Ligue 1 forward open to Celtic move
Dolberg may not be the only number nine to arrive at Parkhead before the deadline passes this evening, though, as the club are looking at another option in that position.
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According to journalist Mark Hendry, via his Substack, Celtic are keen on a deadline day move to sign Strasbourg striker Sekou Mara on a season-long loan.
The reporter claims that the former Southampton attacker is open to a move to Parkhead after failing to feature in any of his side’s matchs so far this season.
Hendry adds that Mara, who joined Strasbourg from Southampton for around £10m, is one of the options that the club are tracking as they look to sign two new centre-forwards today.
Why Sekou Mara could be Moussa Dembele 2.0
This potential deal, albeit only a possible loan, is giving off shades of the signing of Moussa Dembele, and we all know how that eventually played out in Glasgow.
The French marksman signed for Celtic from Fulham in the summer of 2016 after he had come up through the youth ranks in France before experiencing Championship football with the Cottagers.
Moussa Dembele’s career up to Celtic exit
Club
Appearances
Goals
Celtic
94
51
Fulham
64
19
Fulham U21
12
7
Fulham U18
4
5
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, Dembele caught the eye as a goalscorer with Fulham, after joining them from PSG, and then went on to be an incredibly prolific striker for Celtic.
Mara has a similar set of experiences under his belt. He came through the youth ranks at Bordeaux in France and then played for Southampton in the Premier League and the Championship, as Dembele did with Fulham, before ending up in France again with Strasbourg.
The 23-year-old star, who was described as a “dangerous” forward by U23 scout Antonio Mango, produced six goals and two assists in all competitions in the 2023/24 campaign for the Saints, and scored one goal in seven starts for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 last term, per Sofascore.
He may not appear to be an obvious Dembele repeat from his recent goal return, but a 23-year-old talent who has been deemed good enough to play in the Premier League and Ligue 1 as a striker already, and to be signed for £10m last year, is an exciting prospect.
If Celtic and Rodgers can get this deal done and help him to fulfill his potential by handing him regular minutes in Scotland, the Hoops could have their next superb French number nine on their hands.