Lyon reportedly join the race for sought-after Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham

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Ligue 1 outfit Lyon have joined the race for Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham, according to a report by the Scottish Sun.

They report that the French club, who will play in next season’s Champions League having finished third last season will battle Marseille and Porto for the 23-year-old midfielder.

They have a new manager – former Arsenal and Barcelona defender Sylvinho – and Ntcham is apparently among the names being considered as he seeks to revamp the squad he’s inherited.

And Celtic have a history of dealing with Lyon, as they raided Parkhead on the final day of last summer’s transfer window for striker Moussa Dembele.

The BBC reported at the time that Celtic got the better part of £20 million for Dembele last summer and could see one of their best players tread the same route 12 months on.

Both Ntcham and Dembele are French international under 21 team-mates and it would perhaps be as tough for Ntcham to resist the lure of a return to his home country as it was for Dembele.

Throw in Champions League football on top and it becomes a tricky offer to turn down – if Lyon can stump up the cash like they eventually did last summer.

But if it is to happen – which would be a blow to Celtic – they would surely want it done sooner than deadline day, to give them enough time to get in a replacement.