Frank Lampard has given green light before for Everton transfer target Moussa Dembele
Frank Lampard has given the “all-clear” before to Moussa Dembele as Everton look at the Lyon striker in January, according to Simon Phillips.
The Toffees are desperately looking to bolster their attacking options in the January transfer window after netting just 15 goals at the halfway stage of the Premier League season.
A report by Foot Mercato [19 January] stated both Aston Villa and Everton were interested in signing the Frenchman, who has been limited to just 14 appearances and two goals this term.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Phillips mentioned the club may be more interested in signing the 26-year-old than Duvan Zapata, who the club have also expressed interest in this month. [Fabrizio Romano, 18 January]
He said: “I think this would be backed a lot more than Zapata, purely because Moussa Dembélé was a Chelsea target when Lampard was there.
“So, Lampard has already said okay to him and given him the all-clear as a player that he’d like in his squad.”
Potent
Despite struggling for form this season, Dembele showcased his goalscoring ability last year when he bagged an impressive 22 goals alongside five assists in 36 appearances.
Everton’s links with the striker are a promising sign, but after missing out on Danny Ings, you cannot help but feel the same may happen again. The Toffees simply don’t have the same pulling power as other Premier League clubs right now, and the club’s financial insecurities are limiting Lampard’s purse considerably this month.
Nonetheless, Everton are still expected to dip into the market for a striker, and either one of Dembele or Zapata could prove to be the signing that unlocks success at Goodison Park.
With Arnaut Danjuma set for a medical on Saturday (21 January), according to Fabrizio Romano, it seems as though the club are finally starting to click into gear this window.
A front three of Dembele, Danjuma and Gordon or Gray should be able to provide the necessary goals to propel the Merseyside club away from the clutches of relegation.