---
title: "Alex McLeish Hails Irons’ ‘Hugely Ambitious’ Transfer Plans for Moussa Dembele"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2020/11/18/alex-mcleish-hails-west-ham-ambitious-transfer-plans-moussa-dembele/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2020-11-18T18:00:36Z"
modified: "2020-11-18T18:00:36Z"
---

# Alex McLeish Hails Irons’ ‘Hugely Ambitious’ Transfer Plans for Moussa Dembele

Former Aston Villa and Scotland manager Alex McLeish has described West Ham as ‘hugely ambitious’ in an interview with [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-are-hugely-ambitious-exclusive-mcleish-wowed-by-jan-transfer-pursuit/) over their pursuit of Lyon striker [Moussa Dembele](https://readwestham.com/2020/11/13/frank-mcavennie-urges-west-ham-sign-moussa-dembele/).

[Numerous reports](https://talksport.com/football/786038/west-ham-man-utd-sign-lyon-moussa-dembele/) have linked the Hammers with a sensational £30m January move for the French striker, and McLeish believes it would be good business, saying: “He’s (Dembele) continued to score goals in France, and again in Europe, at the international level, I don’t know if he’s been as prolific but certainly he’s playing at extremely high levels.”

The 24-year-old striker [scored twice in August to eliminate Manchester City](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53759805) from the Champions League and McLeish believes the ex-Celtic forward would be the ideal fit for David Moyes’ squad.

He said: “Dembele’s been linked for a long time with English teams. David Moyes, with Antonio injured for a while, he’s maybe a little bit short in that department and it seems like David flourishes more with a player whose hold-up play is extremely good.”

Describing the 23-year-old as a “born goalscorer”, McLeish added: “I wasn’t sure if he was top level but I guess if he was then Liverpool, Man City and that would be coming in for him – Man United were linked with him.

“West Ham are hugely ambitious and they will have done their homework and superbly well enough to say that if Dembele comes in, I would say that they must have done their homework, 100 per cent.”

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Whilst the links to Dembele remain speculative, any genuine interest from would likely be greatly received by Irons fans collectively.

With the Lyon striker valued at £36m by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/moussa-dembele/marktwertverlauf/spieler/229004), the reported fee of £30m would present value for money, especially as goals are the most valuable commodity in a striker’s game.

Dembele has already plundered 114 senior goals in his career despite his young age, with a few of those coming in the Champions League ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/moussa-dembele/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/229004)).

Therefore, it’s not hard to see why McLeish has commended West Ham’s ambition to try and sign someone who indeed fits the description of “born goalscorer”.