Manchester United Transfer News: Moussa Dembele Watched Amid Latest Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly one of four clubs to have scouted Celtic’s star forward Moussa Dembele on Wednesday night.

The Scottish champions took on La Liga giants Barcelona at Parkhead, losing 2-0. According to Peter O’Rourke of ESPN FC, representatives from the Red Devils, Arsenal, Southampton and Atletico Madrid were in attendance to run the rule over the France youth international.

“Sources have told ESPN FC that United and Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Dembele and have watched him on several occasions this season,” the report continued.

Dembele has been a big hit in Glasgow since his summer switch from Fulham, excelling in the Scottish Premier League and the Champions League, too.

Bleacher Report UK took a look at his rapid rise:

The forward has really kicked on at Celtic. The pressure of playing for such a huge club doesn’t look to have inhibited the former Paris Saint-Germain academy star, as he’s led the line magnificently for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

While scoring goals in the Scottish Premiership is not often considered a true barometer of a forward’s promise, Dembele has shone on all stages this season.

Ahead of the clash with Barcelona, the Champions League Twitter feed took a look at his outstanding overall record in 2016-17:

Given the talent, potential and temperament he has showcased, it’s little surprise to read clubs of the calibre aforementioned are linked with the player.

For United, the centre-forward spot is an intriguing position, too. While manager Jose Mourinho has a world-class option to call upon in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at 35 years old, he’s definitely the present, not the future, for the Red Devils.

Indeed, while working as a pundit for BT Sport, former United man Michael Owen said the Swede is a “stopgap striker” for the club (h/t Samuel Lovett of The Independent).

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There’s youthful talent down the pecking order at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford has excelled since bursting on to the scene last season, while many envisage Anthony Martial moving off the left flank to become a central striker in the future. Dembele would pose a different kind of option to that pair, though.

Sports journalist Graham Hunter was impressed with how the youngster acquitted himself against formidable opponents in Barcelona:

Indeed, Dembele is physical in his holdup play, aggressive in his running and has shown in his short career already that he’s capable of scoring a variety of different goals. The move to Celtic has provided a platform to showcase his talents on a regular basis, and given the amount of football he’s played, it’s little surprise there’s been an upturn in consistency.

If Dembele is to move on from Celtic, ensuring he continues to get on the field frequently must be at the forefront of any decision he makes. Clubs like Arsenal, Atletico and United undoubtedly carry an allure, but not necessarily the requisite assurances needed when it comes to first-team football.