According to a recent report by the Daily Mirror, EFL Championship leaders Leeds United are said to be plotting an enterprising summer bid for the services of Celtic’s French striker Odsonne Edouard. The report suggests that the Whites are looking at the former PSG man as an option to lead the line next season, especially if they manage to finally gain promotion to the Premier League at the end of the current campaign. Marcelo Bielsa is claimed to be eyeing some ‘Premier League quality talent’, and he is said to view Edouard as a plausible option ahead of what promises to be an exciting transfer window.
Although the report has clarified that Leeds United want Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard this summer, whether or not Neil Lennon will be open to allowing this transfer to take place will be a whole other question altogether. The Championship club are said to have made a new target man a primary target going into the next campaign, especially considering the lack of consistency that has been displayed by former Chelsea man Patrick Bamford over the last few seasons. It has further been claimed that Leicester City are also involved in the race for the forward’s signature, but that it won’t stop the Whites from making a move if their promotion is confirmed.
What Makes Odsonne Edouard An Attractive Option For Leeds United?
The French forward has unquestionably been this Hoops side’s driving force in attack over the last couple of seasons, and that statement doesn’t even begin to cover all the attributes that he adds to the team. The 22-year-old is arguably the best finisher in the entirety of the Scottish Premiership, and as far as compliments go, they don’t get much bigger than that. The former PSG man displays good upper body strength and balance, which he uses to muscle opposing defenders out of the way and charge forward into spaces inside the box. With that said, it’s worth conceding that his true brilliance actually comes once he enters the box.
The youngster shows incredible composure on the ball even in high-pressure situations, and he has the calmness required to finish off chances with aplomb in the final third. Despite being the Celts’ target-man, the forward has showcased his general quality by scoring directly from free-kicks, while also boasting strong dribbling skills.
The striker tends to be an expert at finding the target from the most improbable of angles and distances, and more often than not, his finishes leave the opposition keeper no chance of making a save. The Frenchman’s numbers in the league this season have been nothing short of mind-blowing, as he has recorded 21 goals and 12 assists from 27 first-team appearances.
Would Celtic Be Able To Make Do Without Edouard Leading The Line?
The Frenchman has without a doubt been the catalyst for everything positive that this Celtic side has produced in attack all season, which means that replacing him would be quite the challenge indeed for the Parkhead club. Taking his presence out of the team would be like removing one goal from the scoreline every time they take to the pitch, and while that doesn’t sound too bad on paper, it will inevitably end up having dire consequences. Leigh Griffiths and Patryk Klimala form the two primary alternate options to Edouard, but saying that neither of them will be able to reach the 22-year-old’s level up-front is an easy shout, to begin with.
Leeds United Want Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard This Summer: Can Lennon Afford To Cash In?
The Bhoys are set to play out what could be branded as the most important league season in the club’s history next time out, and going into a campaign of such significance without Edouard’s presence would be nothing short of footballing suicide. The former PSG man’s exploits have singlehandedly earned the Celts a flurry of points over the last couple of seasons, and removing that from the equation will surely have a negative effect. Leeds’ desire to acquire the talismanic striker is quite understandable. Still, it would be in the Celts’ best interest to convince Edouard to stay on at Parkhead for at least another season.
