Sheffield Wednesday are being linked with a move for Brest winger Karamoko Dembele.
Sheffield Wednesday have been linked with Karamoko Dembele at Brest throughout this summer, following the 21-year-old’s impressive loan spell with Blackpool last time round.
Former Celtic gem Dembele scored eight and assisted 13 more, lifting a handful of end-of-season awards at Bloomfield Road.
He’s now set to leave Ligue Brest this summer. Sheffield Wednesday were reported to have tabled a bid for Dembele, along with Derby County and Portsmouth, with Bolton Wanderers then tabling a bid too.
Since, Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has played down reports that his side have submitted an offer for Dembele.
Mousinho said: “There’s nothing in that at the moment, that’s another one there’s no preparing or readying a bid!”
So far this summer, Danny Rohl and Sheffield Wednesday have signed nine new players, also securing new contracts for the likes of Barry Bannan, Di’Shon Bernard, Liam Palmer, and Josh Windass.
Carlton Palmer reacts to John Mousinho comments on Karamoko Dembele
Former Sheffield Wednesday man and pundit Carlton Palmer has now given his verdict on Mousinho’s Dembele comments.
Palmer told Football League World: “Who knows whether Portsmouth manager Mousinho is running a double bluff to not let his hand out, especially when so many are after his services, maybe he is just keeping it quiet.
“But he’s generally a straight guy, and with the nature of the manager, it’s probably best to take him at his word.
“It will be interesting to see, it could be good news for Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County, who have apparently tabled bids.”
Why Sheffield Wednesday must push for Karamoko Dembele deal
Right now, the race to sign Dembele seems to be wide open. But it certainly seems like Sheffield Wednesday are among the front-runners.
Mousinho’s comment could be taken one of two ways; he’s either bluffing, and keeping his interest under wraps, or Pompey simply aren’t keen.
Either way, Sheffield Wednesday won’t count on what Portsmouth are doing in the transfer market, and will focus on their own bid to sign Dembele this summer.
And he should become a key target for Rohl who’ll surely be eager to lower the average age of his first-team squad this summer, and add young players with potential like Dembele.
If the Owls can get a deal over the line for him then it would be another very exciting capture.