Manchester United plot January striker raid: Jose Mourinho eyes his new Didier Drogba

According to the Daily Mail, Dembele was scouted by United three times last season before eventually joining Celtic from Fulham in June.

The 20-year-old striker has hit the ground running in Scotland, scoring an impressive 16 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions.

And the Daily Mail believe he remains very much on United’s radar.

The Red Devils are said to have sent club scout David Friio to watch Dembele in Under-21 action for France against England on Monday ahead of a possible January move.

Mourinho reportedly believes the youngster could be the next Didier Drogba. The Ivorian striker helped fire the Special One’s Chelsea side to three Premier League titles during his two spells at Stamford Bridge. But Mourinho faces an uphill battle to bring Dembele to Old Trafford with Celtic reportedly not ready to entertain a January exit for their star man. He will also apparently face stiff competition in the shape of Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich for the French starlet, whose value has surely rocketed since his £500,000 move to Parkhead in the summer.