Simeone confirms Atletico in ‘advanced’ talks over Moussa Dembele

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 3 min read

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone has confirmed that the club are close to signing Moussa Dembele from Lyon.

After the departure of Diego Costa, Los Colchoneros have been on the search for a replacement centre-forward to provide competition for Luis Suarez and Joao Felix up top.

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Dembele has emerged as their primary transfer target in January, with Atletico nearing an initial loan deal with the option to buy for €33m in the summer.

When asked about the transfer in a recent press conference, Simeone suggested the deal could be completed soon.

“It’s still not confirmed, but it’s very advanced,” the Argentine told reporters in the pre-match press conference for Atletico’s upcoming match against Sevilla.

“I’m going to turn my head towards the game, which is what interests me, and when there’s something [on Dembele], if there is something, I’ll give an opinion.”

Over the past few years, Dembele has enjoyed a growing reputation within European football.

Snapshot: Moussa Dembele

It was after his move to Celtic from Fulham that people truly began to take notice, as he excelled for the Hoops in his short period with the club, most notably scoring a marvellous overhead kick against Man City in the Champions League.

He would help the Glasgow side to a historic two consecutive trebles before his £19.7 million [€22m] transfer to Lyon.

In the 2018/19 season he scored 15 goals in 21 starts in Ligue 1, and followed that up with 16 goals in 24 starts the following season in 2019/20.

However, in the current campaign he has struggled for form, only scoring once in 16 appearances in the French top flight.

That hasn’t put Atletico off his talents, though, with him looking more likely than not to end up at the Wanda Metropolitano this month.

Man Utd had previously been interested in a move for Dembele.