Arsenal

Arsenal Join Chelsea & Liverpool In Race For 17-Goal French Attacker

Arsenal are ready to battle it out with Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool over the signing of a 17-goal French attacker. Find out the details here

by
Fraser Crawford
June 18, 2016

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, the race for Fulham’s Moussa Dembele hots-up….

Arsenal have joined the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool in the race to sign highly-rated Fulham forward Moussa Dembele this summer, according to ESPN.

Arsene Wenger has already kick-started his summer recruitment plans with the signing of Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka last month but with Theo Walcott’s future at the Emirates in doubt, the Gunners boss is on the look out for attacking reinforcements.

It looks like the Frenchman has identified Dembele as a potential replacement for Walcott as sources close to the player have informed ESPN that Arsenal are the latest club to express an interest in signing the talented teenager.

Dembele has emerged as one of the hottest young properties outside of the Premier League after progressing through the Fulham youth system before breaking in to the first team set-up in 2013 and there’s set to be a scramble for his signature this summer as he’s out-of-contract next month after refusing to sign an extension.

The 19-year-old has just come off the back of his best season to date after scoring 17 goals in all competitions for a struggling Fulham side that just avoided relegation from the Championship last year.

However, Arsenal aren’t the only club in the running as ESPN claim that Chelsea invited the striker to watch their Premier League clash against Manchester City back in April ahead of a summer swoop while Liverpool have also been keeping a close eye on his situation.

Incoming Blues boss Antonio Conte is expected to revamp the Chelsea squad this summer and Dembele would provide some much-needed competition to Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge with Loic Remy expected to leave and Radamel Falcao heading back to Monaco after a failed loan spell.

Jurgen Klopp has already been active in the market having already signed a new goalkeeper, defender and midfielder but the German coach could also bring in a striker if Christian Benteke leaves and Dembele appears to be on the Liverpool managers radar.

So it looks as though Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are ready to battle-it-out for the highly-rated French under-20 international this summer but they could face even further competition for his signature.

ESPN suggest that Tottenham could yet renew their interest after narrowly missing out on a deal to sign Dembele during the January transfer window while Juventus, Galatasaray and Fenerbache are among the European clubs understood to be interested.

We’ll have to wait and see how this all plays out but whoever wins the race for Demebel’s signature will be signing a hugely talented striker who looks to have a bright future ahead of him – although while he’s available on a free transfer, the purchasing club would have to pay Fulham compensation for his development.