CELTIC face further mutiny in their ranks after Moussa Dembele reacted angrily to their decision to deny him a move back to France.
Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers revealed Celtic had rejected a major offer after Lyon stepped up their interest in the 22-year-old, and added that he expected the striker to remain at Parkhead when the transfer window closed on Friday night.
But Dembele posted a series of social media posts which outlined his frustration.
Dembele’s first Twitter post stated that: “A man, without his word, is nothing. A real man keeps his word.”
— Moussa Dembélé (@MDembele_10) August 30, 2018
The France Under-21 international added in the early hours of the morning: “Don’t get it wrong Bhoys and Ghirls nothing to do with people who really care about the club @CelticFC too much love and respect for you and the crest #CarefulWhoYouCallTheLeaderOfYours”
The dissent came after Dedryck Boyata and Rodgers were at odds over the Belgian defender’s claim he was injured as he missed several crucial games including after Celtic rejected a bid from Fulham. Boyata is back in the team and also looks set to stay but Dembele does not appear to be in the right frame of mind to face Rangers on Sunday.
Don't get it wrong Bhoys and Ghirls nothing to do with people who really care about the club @CelticFC ?too much love and respect for you and the crest #CarefulWhoYouCallTheLeaderOfYours pic.twitter.com/3FR1YoJLHr
— Moussa Dembélé (@MDembele_10) August 31, 2018
Dembele liked several Twitter posts which backed his stance, and also one from former Celtic striker Chris Sutton which stated that he was “clearly calling out Brendan Rodgers”.
The striker signed for Celtic from Fulham in the summer of 2016 on a four-year contract for a compensation fee of about £400,000 as the Scottish champions took advantage of FIFA rules to sign him for a fraction of the price he could have gone for if he moved within England.
Rodgers admitted earlier in the week that he could understand why Dembele might be keen to move on following the development plan they set out when he first arrived at the club, but he stressed he needed a replacement lined up.
“We don’t want him to go,” Rodgers said after clinching a place in the Europa League group stages on Thursday night. “We understand that offer is significant but it has to work for both sides and at Celtic we need to have someone of a certain quality to come in then unfortunately it can’t be done because he is not a player we want to lose.”
Rodgers is aiming to tie up a loan deal for Leicester defender Filip Benkovic and bring in former Kilmarnock midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu.
Rangers are hoping to complete the signing of Osijek winger Eros Grezda and Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall, the latter on a season-long loan.
Elsewhere, Hearts, Dundee, Hibernian, St Mirren, St Johnstone and Hamilton are all trying to do more business.
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes did not expect any more movement after signing Max Lowe on loan from Derby on Thursday, while Motherwell and Livingston also appear to be satisfied with their squads. Kilmarnock secured business early in the week with the loan captures of Aaron Tshibola and Greg Stewart.
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