Man United to bid £43m for Lyon striker Dembele

Manchester United are reportedly ready to bid £43m for Lyon striker Moussa Dembele to replace the injured Marcus Rashford.

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to be reluctant to rely on Anthony Martial until the end of the season after the forward missed a great chance to equalise in the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.

Mason Greenwood, 18, is still considered one for the future, despite showing that he is more than capable of stepping up at times during the current campaign.

That has led United to look into Europe in their search for a new frontman, and according to Foot Mercato, they have settled on trying to complete a deal for 23-year-old former Fulham hitman Dembele.

United reportedly scouted Dembele in action against Nantes on the weekend, a game in which the striker notched his 11th goal in 19 Ligue 1 game this term.

Despite Lyon president Michel Aulas saying that he will not allow the sale of Dembele in the January window, the report claims that if a big enough offer comes in then the French side could be willing to do a deal.

And the report adds that United are ready to test the water with a £43m offer as they look to strengthen their central striking options after Rashford suffered a double stress fracture to his back.

Moussa Dembele’s future at Lyon could be back up in the air after the club was able to secure a possible replacement in the form of Villarreal striker Karl Toko Ekambi (Daily Mail).