Former Celtic star Moussa Dembele's hopes of landing a money-spinning move to the English Premier League have been boosted due to his stint with Fulham as a teenager.
His four-and-a-half years at Craven Cottage make him eligible to be registered as a homegrown player for any club in the world's richest league if transfer suitors are set to come calling. FA rules state a player is eligible to be registered as homegrown if they spent three years with a registered club before turning 21. Dembele fits the criteria and that bonus could be pivotal as teams put together their January transfer shopping list. EPL teams need to have 17 homegrown players among their 25-man squad which doesn't include U21 players who have come through the ranks.
Celtic are unlikely to see a return in their cast-iron 10 per cent sell-on fee which was inserted into the the £19.8m deal which led him to Lyon on the final day of the summer transfer window in August. However, it is likely to open doors for the former France U21 standout who appears on the verge of exiting OL as he plays second fiddle to Alexandre Lacazette.
Dembele's lack of action at Lyon has come as a surprise to many just a season after he netted 21 Ligue 1 goals. But the return of the hometown hero from Arsenal has kiboshed his opportunities. The Parkhead hero has been linked with the likes of Fenerbahce, however, he has never been short on suitors in England.
The likes of West Ham, Manchester United and Chelsea are noted admirers and now Aston Villa have been the latest to be namechecked. And the ability to add Dembele without potentially sacrificing a current non-homegrown players adds another level of appeal.
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