According to a recent report by the Daily Mirror, quoting the Transfer Window Podcast, Premier League giants Arsenal have been credited with a £22.5m interest in the services of Celtic’s French striker Odsonne Edouard. The report suggests that the Gunners are considering the former PSG man as an option for the upcoming campaign, with Alexandre Lacazette seemingly in talks with Juventus about a potential move to the Serie A. Edouard has been viewed as a good replacement to purchase with the funds raised by the potential sale of Lacazette.
Although the report has clarified that Arsenal are interested in Celtic’s French striker Odsonne Edouard, whether or not Neil Lennon is willing to cash in on their star man remains to be seen. Arsenal are reportedly looking to sell Lacazette to strengthen in other key areas, with the striker being handed a £37m price-tag.
Apart from Juventus, Atletico Madrid are also said to be keen on the Frenchman’s services. Arsenal’s initial bid worth £15m was rejected by Celtic, with their new offer of £22.5m planned to be paid over four years. Celtic though, are said to be keen on a single payment.
What Is Odsonne Edouard’s Role In This Celtic Team?
The French striker arrived from PSG as an unpolished gem but has gradually developed into one of the best young finishers in the entirety of Europe. Adept at making runs in behind defenders and finishing off opportunities in style, Edouard’s clinical nature would make him a good fit at a variety of top clubs. Capable of providing the opposition defenders a torrid time with his work off the ball, the former PSG man’s attitude and effort on the pitch needn’t be questioned at all.
Strong at heading the ball as well, Edouard is among the most well-rounded strikers plying their trade in Britain at the moment. Despite being just 22-years-old, he has proven to the fans that depending on him regularly isn’t a risky affair by any stretch of the imagination. While the goals of Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos dried up in the second part of last season, Edouard seemed completely unaffected and carried on in the same manner he started the campaign. The youngster boasts excellent strength and physical attributes as well, which means that he is going to be well-suited to the aggressive nature of Premier League football as well.
What Is Celtic’s Current Strike Situation?
The Parkhead club have three centre-forward options to choose from apart from Edouard – Leigh Griffiths, Patryk Klimala and former West Ham United man Albian Ajeti. The latter was brought in recently as Lennon prepared for what promises to be an important season for the Celts. Despite some promising signs, asking Ajeti to deliver on a weekly basis in his first season in Scotland wouldn’t be fair at all. Klimala is still very young and needs development, while Celtic are yet to provide any sort of clarity on Griffiths’ situation at the club.
Arsenal Are Interested In Celtic’s French Striker Odsonne Edouard: Should Lennon Cash In?
The Celts have started the new Premiership season in decent fashion, with their latest victory coming with a comfortable 5-0 scoreline. Despite this, the number of tactics that Lennon has had to experiment with so far this term will be off-putting. Edouard’s importance to the side simply cannot be underplayed, and if he were to depart, it would take a genuinely Herculean effort from the rest of the attackers to guide Celtic to the title again this time. Selling him would have dire effects on the Celts’ squad, and as things stand, it doesn’t look like they have nearly enough firepower to effectively replace him.
