Chelsea
are willing to pay up to £34m for Moussa Dembele,
Sky Sports News
understands, but Lyon are confident of keeping hold of their striker in the
January transfer window.
The former Celtic forward, who has scored 30 goals since moving to Ligue 1
from Celtic for £20m 18 months ago, is one of the options Chelsea are
weighing up in January.
However, the French club released a statement on Thursday outlining their
intent not to let the 23-year-old 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."
One source said on Thursday that Chelsea have had a £34m bid rejected.
Olivier Giroud is likely to leave Chelsea during the transfer window and
Frank Lampard has been tracking Dembele for some time.
Sky Sports News has been told Lampard sees similarities between Dembele and
former Chelsea forward Didier Drogba.
Dembele enjoyed a successful spell with Celtic after joining the club from
Fulham in 2016 under former boss Brendan Rodgers.
He won two Scottish Premierships, two League Cups and two Scottish Cups at
Parkhead before a move to Lyon in August 2018.
Aston Villa have enquired after Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi on loan, but Sky
Sports News understands he is highly unlikely to leave Stamford Bridge and
wants to stay and fight for his place under boss Lampard.
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