Celtic have denied a Christmas Day story of a Brighton bid being accepted for Moussa Dembele.

Sky Sports Scotland has reported a fee of £18million had been reached for the France U-21 star who joined the Hoops last summer from Fulham.

However, Celtic sources have denied the claims to The Sun.

Senior Parkhead sources are surprised at the Christmas Day reports and dismissed them as “nonsense".

Dembele bagged 32 goals for the Hoops – including a hat-trick on his Old Firm debut against Rangers – last season as they secured a record-breaking treble.

That form saw him attract attention from some of Europe's top clubs.