Arsenal, Manchester United & Tottenham make enquiries to sign Dembele
Three elite Premier League clubs have registered their interest in
Fulham's Belgian playmaker, who wants to play for a club in the
Champions League
The three clubs have registered their interest in the Fulham attacking midfielder through third parties in the last two weeks.
The London club are expecting bids imminently for their prize asset, who they value between £12-15 million.
The
interest is believed to be strongest from Spurs, although Dembele would
prefer to move to a team who will play in the Champions League next
season.
Manchester City and Chelsea have cooled their interest in the Belgian, who has only a year remaining on his contract.
But Dembele is highly regarded by United,
Arsenal and Spurs, given his price tag and the two seasons of Premier
League football he has under his belt.
Fulham are eager to offer
the 25-year-old, who joined the Londoners from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar
for £5m in the summer of 2010, an improved deal but appreciate they are
facing a losing battle to hold on to him.
But the west Londoners,
whose highest paid player is goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, know they
cannot compete on wages or status with the richest Premier League clubs,
and accept they will struggle to maintain Dembele's services if he
receives an attractive offer in the summer.
Goal.com understands
that manager Martin Jol would prefer a sale early in the summer window
rather than a lengthy saga, to give him enough time to source a
replacement.
The Belgian was a revelation for Fulham in the last
few months of the season after Jol converted him from a deep-lying
forward to a central midfielder.
He has scored only seven goals
in 72 appearances for Fulham, including just two goals last season,
although many believe he could be even more effective playing with
higher quality players.
Source : Goal.com
