Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

West Ham have made a £20million bid for Celtic starlet Moussa Dembele.

Mirror Sport understands that the Hammers will come close to breaking their transfer record in order to sign the French Under 21 international.

The club hinted at the move in the "Insider" column on their website, saying "A bid of £20m – a figure close to the Club’s all-time transfer record – was submitted for a player from Scotland."

West Ham had a £6m bid for Sunderland's Jermain Defoe and a £10m offer for Brentford's Scott Hogan rejected on Wednesday.

(Image: Daily Record) (Image: Handout)

The 20-year-old Dembele has made a massive impact in Glasgow since arriving in the summer, scoring nine goals in 20 league appearances.

The former Fulham star also impressed in the Champions League, with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool also believed to be chasing his signature.

But despite big clubs circling, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers asserted as recently as Saturday that the Scottish Premier League leaders do not need to sell.

(Image: Reuters) (Image: Mark Runnacles)

“He won’t go in January. There’s no question about that.

“We don’t need to sell. We need our best players here for the remainder of the season.

“He has had a very good season and I can’t stop people writing about him or his valuation.

“But he’s very happy here and enjoying working and developing. That’s the reason he came here.”