Deal all but done: Celtic reach agreement to sign ‘phenomenal’ 6ft 1in player – confirmed
By Richard Parks
Celtic have an agreement in place to sign Odsonne Edouard permanently in the summer, according to Brendan Rodgers.
The Hoops manager has revealed that his club are weighing up whether to convert the PSG striker’s season-long loan into a full-time transfer at the end of the season.
Rodgers explained that the terms have already been agreed and there are a number of factors involved as to whether Celtic will activate their option on a player he rates highly.
“There is a clause in the deal,” Rodgers said, as quoted by the Daily Record. “The clause is there and there’s been an agreement – but we would need to trigger the fee.
“There’s a lot to do in terms of the bigger picture too. In time we’ll see. He’s a fantastic player and we’ll see between now and the end of the season.
“But he’s settled in well and if we have any chance to do something at the end of the season then we can look at that.”
Edouard has scored eight goals in 24 Celtic appearances this season, including the winner in the memorable 3-2 win over Rangers last week.
“He is the most natural of all our strikers in how he moves,” observed the Celtic manager, as quoted by the Herald, of the 6ft 1in front man. “His movement is phenomenal for a young player. How he drifts in and out of space. Then his actual speed to get in behind. It is very early in his career but if you measure him coming through at PSG and France, he is a record goalscorer. He has the ability to score goals.
“He trains well every days. He does things on the training ground that amaze me, really.”
Football Insider verdict:
Edouard is clearly a young striker that Rodgers rates highly, but you sense that the numbers would have to stack up for Celtic to sign him permanently. The manager dismissed reports in France that the activation fee is £7million, but it is nonetheless likely to be around £5million, a lot for a player who has spent most of the campaign as third-choice forward. Is he a genuine talent? Yes. Will he get better? Yes. He is only 20 and his pedigree has been evident in the second half of the season, most especially with that beautifully-taken winner at Ibrox. If Moussa Dembele is sold, expect Celtic to press the button on signing Edouard.
In other Celtic news, it has been revealed today that the Scottish champions have launched a bid to sign the a brilliant English Championship player who is out of contract this summer.
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