Former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas has identified an England-based forward who he feels could be “a potential long-term replacement for Odsonne Edouard” at Parkhead.
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Speaking to the Daily Express [via Daily Record], the 58-year-old has urged the Hoops to make a move for Brentford’s Ollie Watkins in the January transfer window.
Nicholas is hoping that his former club will move quickly for the 24-year-old, who is currently the second-highest scorer in the English Championship, before Premier League clubs enter the race for him.
He told the Daily Express [via Daily Record]: “Ollie Watkins is the sort of player Celtic should be trying to land this month.
“If you want real stardust and a potential long-term replacement for Odsonne Edouard then I would be looking at the 24-year-old Brentford striker.
“I stay a lot in that area so I have watched a lot of this boy and he gets better and better every time I see him.
“The Englishman has scored 17 goals in 26 Championship games this season and can also play wide on the left.
“Brentford know he is going to be a top player. I’m not sure what his exact value is but it will be a lot more when the English Premier League clubs start to come in.
“At that point Celtic would have to forget him but they have a chance of nicking him this month for £10-12million.”
Having alluded to Watkins’ fine return of 17 goals in 26 league outings in the current campaign, it’s quite understandable why Nicholas feels the Brentford man would be an astute addition for Celtic.
This is already his most prolific campaign in senior football, although he is by no means a one-season wonder.
The 24-year-old has hit double figures in the league alone for the fourth season in a row, with the last three of those at Championship level (as per TransferMarkt), so he can legitimately claim to be a consistently prolific marksman.
Nicholas’ comment about him being a long-term successor to Edouard is also pertinent in the wake of the Daily Record‘s claim this week that Leicester are considering a £30m bid for the Frenchman.
The 21-year-old is Celtic’s second highest scorer this season with 16 goals, four times the amount that the Hoops’ other senior centre-forwards Leigh Griffiths and Vakoun Issouf Bayo have managed between them. [via TransferMarkt]
If Edouard is lured to Leicester at some point in 2020, Neil Lennon would have a huge hole to fill in his team, given the lack of goals from the centre-forward alternatives to the Frenchman.
Watkins’ splendid form this season, off the back of multiple prolific campaigns and at a relatively young age of 24, mark him out to be a sensible recommendation by Nicholas as a worthy transfer target for Celtic this month, especially if they can get in before the interests of English Premier League clubs are piqued.
Celtic fans, do you agree with Nicholas’ recommendation of Watkins as a player that the Hoops should sign this month? Share your views in the comments section below!
