Chelsea have had a £34m bid for Lyon striker Moussa Dembele turned down, according to reports, with the club confident of keeping hold of their striker in the transfer window.
The former Celtic forward, who has scored 30 goals since moving to France for £20m 18 months ago, is one of the options Chelsea are looking at in January.
It was understood Chelsea were willing to pay up to £34m for the Dembele, but it would seem they will have to revise their strategy if they want to have any hope of completing his signature.
They have their work cut out though with the French team releasing a statement on Thursday stating their intent not to let him leave.
It read: “Olympique Lyonnais has taken note of certain information relayed by the media suggesting that Moussa Dembele could interest other clubs during this transfer window.
“We would like to reaffirm its wish, as in the summer of 2019, to keep Moussa Dembele.
“The club has full confidence in Moussa and counts in particular on him to build a successful team for the seasons to come.”
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud is likely to leave the club during the transfer window and Frank Lampard has been tracking Dembele for a while now.
According to reports, Frank Lampard sees similarities between Dembele and former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba.
Dembele enjoyed a successful time with Celtic after joining the club from Fulham in 2016 under former manager Brendan Rodgers.
He won two Scottish Premierships, two League Cups and two Scottish Cups at the club before his transfer move to Lyon in the summer of 2018.
Aston Villa have already enquired after Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi on loan, but it is believed he is highly unlikely to leave the Bridge and wants to fight for his place under Lampard.
