Man Utd open to signing Dembele as Ronaldo's replacement
FT Desk
- 12 Jul 2022 19:35 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United have reportedly turned their attention towards Lyon ace Moussa Dembele as they seek a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speculation is growing that after just a single year back at Old Trafford Ronaldo is ready to move on again.
The absence of Champions League football for the coming season is cited as the principle motivation behind the move, with the striker keen to play in the tournament every year in the twilight of his career.
Related articles
While the uncertainty over Ronaldo looms, though, United have wasted no time in lining up an alternative.
Dembele, 26, is no stranger to English football, having previously played for Fulham after joining the Cottagers as a teenager from Paris Saint-Germain's youth team.
The forward went on to star in Scotland with Celtic before arriving at Lyon in 2018, smashing 51 goals in 94 games during his time at Parkhead.
And with 67 in 144 outings for Lyon he has proved a similar hit back in his native France, leading to regular links with some of Europe's top clubs.
United move for Ronaldo replacement
According to MediaFoot, United are already working to re-establish contact with Lyon over a transfer, albeit with some secrecy given the fluid nature of the Ronaldo situation.
Arsenal have also been linked with the forward this summer, but may decide against pursuing that interest following the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City.
Lyon, meanwhile, are waiting to see what the best offer will be for their star, who was back to his best in 2021-22 with a 21-goal haul in Ligue 1 after struggling the previous term.
Dembele, however, only has one year left on his contract at the club, which may prompt them to negotiate now rather than risk losing him on a free next summer.
