Leeds, Aston Villa, West Ham in five-way fight to sign 140-goal striker available for free this summer

Rob McCarthy 08 May 2023 7:48 PM

Premier League trio Leeds United, Aston Villa and West Ham are in the hunt to sign a prolific Ligue 1 striker this summer, according to reports.

Lyon frontman Moussa Dembele is the forward in question, with the 26-year-old’s contract running out in the summer as he looks for a fresh challenge on a free transfer.

That’s according to Fotomac, which claims that Inter Milan are Galatasaray are ready to rival the English trio for the former Celtic man.

Dembele is currently in regular contact with his agent as he mulls over his next move at the end of the season.

Fotomac adds that Dembele is ‘warm’ to the idea of making a return to the Premier League, where he started out with Fulham before making a name for himself at Celtic Park.

Leeds, Villa and the Hammers are all expected to be in the market for a new No.9. However, Dembele’s stats make for worrying reading, with his once prolific career seemingly in decline.

The pacy forward has scored 140 goals in 336 career games, which includes spells with the Cottagers, Celtic and Lyon.

Last season he notched an impressive 22 times in 36 games but that output has dropped significantly this term.

Lyon star’s struggles prompt summer exit

Dembele has only found the net three times in 27 outings, hence Lyon’s reason for allowing him to walk away.

However, with the attacker still only 26 years of age, gambling on a free transfer for a player who has excelled on UK shores before may prove one worth taking.

Indeed, only recently Manchester United were tipped to make a move for Dembele, along with Everton. But Fotomac states that it’s now Leeds, Villa and West Ham who are willing to go head-to-head with Inter and Galatasaray for the player.

Moussa Dembele