In a recent interview with Football Insider, the 2000 European Golden Shoe winner Kevin Phillips has tipped West Ham United to move in for Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard. Phillips said,
“I think a lot of clubs will be interested at £15million because if it works, great and if it doesn’t you have not lost too much. What is £15million? Nowadays, it’s nothing.
“If Edouard is set to leave this summer, I think West Ham and a few others would be looking at him. It will ultimately be down to the player, but where West Ham and Leicester finish in the league could determine where the player goes.
“Having worked under Rodgers though, and knowing his style of football, I think he would opt for Leicester.”
Edouard’s Excellent Numbers At Celtic Park This Season
The ex-Paris Saint-Germain talent is having another fruitful campaign at Parkhead after putting in a series of influential performances as the focal point of the Celtic attack. The 23-year-old has banged in 20 goals and provided four assists in 33 appearances for the Scottish giants this term across multiple competitions.
The Kourou-born striker has been productive with his all-round contributions in the final third as he is averaging 3.5 shots, 1.2 key passes and 1.6 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Scottish Premiership. Edouard has distributed the ball relatively well in the opponent’s half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 81.3% in the Scottish top tier (stats via whoscored).
The French frontman has established himself as one of the best players in Scottish football. Hence, he has every reason to look for a new adventure following a disappointing domestic season at Celtic Park. The London Stadium could be a perfect home for him as he has got all the skillset required to compete with Michail Antonio for a spot in David Moyes’ first-team in the coming seasons.
What Does The French Attacker Offer On The Pitch?
Edouard possesses blistering pace in his locker that helps him to complete a few encouraging dribbles in the attacking third. Standing at 1.87, he has got the strength to hold the ball up and get others involved in and around the opponent’s penalty box.
The Frenchman can get himself into some dangerous areas behind the opposition defence and has transformed himself into a clinical finisher in front of goal. Still, he lacks experience at the top level, so there are some question marks over whether he can maintain his high standards in the Premier League if Moyes can acquire his services at the end of this campaign.
Should The Hammers Get Edouard On Board?
The East London outfit desperately need to add more firepower to their attack as Antonio remains their only recognised senior striker. A forward of Edouard’s quality will add a lot of goals and pace to the West Ham frontline and could help the Hammers challenge for a UEFA Champions League spot in the years to come.
