Wayne Veysey

Thu 16 April 2020 10:50, UK

The imminent Newcastle United takeover spells bad news for Celtic as the club are set to be provided with the funds to land striker Odsonne Edouard, Football Insider can reveal.

BBC Sport have reported that new documents show United owner Mike Ashley has entered into a charge agreement with potential buyer Amanda Staveley, who is leading a £300million bid which involves Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and the Reuben Brothers.

A Newcastle source has told Football Insider that there is expected to be a transformation in the club’s ambition and willingness to invest in top playing talent.

One of the club’s priorities going into the summer is to sign a 20-goal-a-season centre-forward and among those on their radar have been Edouard.

The Celtic man, 22, has had an outstanding season and was the hot favourite to land the Scottish player of the year award before the campaign was suspended last month.

He was touted as a £30-40million target for Premier League clubs before cash crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

Newcastle are well placed to exploit their new status as a cash-rich club if, as seems almost certain, the takeover is finalised shortly.

Ashley has been a deeply unpopular owner but the Magpies have been self-sustainable throughout his reign and operated within financial fair play guidelines.

It means Newcastle will have the capacity to spend big on transfers and wages this summer in a market that is set to be affected significantly by the pandemic.

Celtic are likely to be vulnerable to bids for Edouard, who has yet to agree a new contract and will soon enter the final two years of his current agreement.

The France Under-21 international has scored 27 goals from 45 appearances in all competitions this season as well as supplied a remarkable 19 assists.

In other Newcastle United news, Alex Bruce has revealed to Football Insider how his father Steve would “love” to sign Premier League 25-year-old from relegation-threatened club.