Former Premiership striker Noel Whelan believes that Celtic may “have their hands full” in trying to keep Odsonne Edouard at the club in the summer transfer window if an English Premier League side comes in for him.
The 22-year-old French forward is the Hoops’ top scorer this season with 21 goals, including five in his last four league games, and the Daily Record reported last month that Leicester had been preparing a £30m offer to bring him to the English top flight.
Whelan thinks that Edouard could be tempted to make the move to England if the opportunity arises, although he feels that Celtic’s consistent European participation is a card that the Hoops could play in persuading him to stay put. When asked by Football Insider if he thinks the striker will remain at Parkhead, Whelan replied: “It is the million-dollar question. Everybody wants goalscorers in their side.
“The only saving grace could be that if Edouard moves to the Premier League he might not be playing in Europe. One thing you are going to get with Celtic is a massive club, always in the Champions League and the chance to showcase himself in Europe. If it is worth giving that up to come to the Premier League, to a club that might be finishing eighth then yes – they will have their hands full to keep him at the club.”
Whelan makes a valid point about Celtic annually qualifying for Europe and participating in the Champions League qualifying rounds or group stage in every year since 2012, but his concerns about Edouard possibly swapping Glasgow for the English Premier League are justified.
As mentioned above, Leicester had shown an interest in the 22-year-old during January and their manager Brendan Rodgers is someone who knows the Frenchman well from their mutual time at Celtic. Also, the ex-Hoops boss apparently claimed that he thinks Edouard could be an even better forward than former Celtic team-mate Moussa Dembele, according to Neil McCann on BBC Sportsound [via The Scottish Sun].
That kind of endorsement from Rodgers could be music to Edouard’s ears if Leicester renew their interest in him once the summer transfer window opens. Also, the Foxes are very well placed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, as they currently lie third in the Premier League and have a 12-point lead over fifth-placed Tottenham (as per Sky Sports).
Whelan said that “everybody wants goalscorers in their side” and that is certainly a description which can be applied to the Celtic striker. He has 21 goals for the season so far in 36 appearances (0.58 per game) and 54 goals in 117 games in total for the Hoops. With Neil Lennon’s team guaranteed 17 more matches this season (potentially rising to 27 if they get to the finals of the Scottish Cup and Europa League), Edouard is on course to end the campaign with at least 31 goals if he maintains his current ratio.
Whelan is right in alluding to Celtic regularly playing in Europe but, should Leicester maintain their league position and go back in for Edouard in the summer, the Football Insider pundit’s anticipation of a summer transfer saga involving the 22-year-old could well materialise.
Celtic fans, do you think Whelan makes some pertinent points in his views on Edouard’s future at the club? Comment below with your views!
