Celtic have been linked with a Dembele deal for Brighton striker Aaron Connoly.
According to a report in The Sun the hoops have joined Manchester United, Manchester City and Hoffenheim in the race for the 18-year-old who is out of contract in June.
The Manchester clubs could offer Connolly a far superior financial package than Celtic but a move to the Scottish champions would provide a more realistic chance of first team football and the chance to play in the Champions League.
Brighton are desperate to get the Galway born striker to sign a new contract but his scoring exploits in the u-23 league and for Ireland’s u-19 squad has alerted other clubs to his availability.
Any transfer fee to an English side would go to a transfer tribunal but joining Celtic would only involve a development fee, as Celtic did with Dembele in 2016. The hoops have since used the same regulations to bring in Kundai Benyu and Armstrong Oko-Flex.
If Connolly signs a new contract with Brighton there are offers for him to go out on loan to a number of Championship clubs but the prospect of working with Brendan Rodgers and playing for Celtic is bound to be attractive.
