Sources: Peterborough respond after Bournemouth submit second bid for Celtic target Dembele
Peterborough United have rejected two bids from Bournemouth for Celtic target Siriki Dembele, Football Insider understands.
The 25-year-old is out of contract in summer and has rejected multiple attempts from the Championship club to secure him to a new deal.
A Peterborough source has told Football Insider that Bournemouth have submitted two offers for Dembele but both have been knocked back.
There is also interest in him from the likes of Celtic, Rangers and Fulham.
Dembele will be a free agent at the end of the season, when the race for his signature is expected to be even more competitive.
His younger brother Karamoko is on Celtic’s books and is also a highly regarded attacker.
Dembele played a starring role in Peterborough’s promotion from League One last term, registering 11 goals and 14 assists from 42 outings.
He has continued his output in the Championship this season, chipping in with five goals and two assists in 24 appearances.
Fellow Posh stars Jonson Clarke-Harris and Joe Ward have also been linked with exits this January as Darren Ferguson’s side battle to beat the drop.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (21 January) that Dembele’s suitors Bournemouth are eyeing Derby County skipper Tom Lawrence as well.
The Championship high-flyers have already added 20-year-old centre-half James Hill from Fleetwood Town in a £1million deal this window.
Man United right-back Ethan Laird has also signed on loan until the end of the season.
Celtic meanwhile have added no fewer than five players in January as they look to boost their garrison for the second half of the Scottish title race.
Japanese trio Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda all arrived on 1 January, while Matt O’Riley and Johnny Kenny signed later in the window.
In other news, pundit tips Celtic to “shatter” Rangers title hopes in February amid “absolutely massive” verdict.