CELTIC legend Chris Sutton insists Celtic must repel all transfer interest in on-fire Odsonne Edouard in the January transfer market – even if someone bids £50MILLION!
The skilful frontman hit the headlines again during the week his third successive two-goal performance for France’s Under-21 team when he knocked in a double against Azerbejan.
Suttons reckons Edouard’s sparkling displays since stepping up at this level will have undoubtedly attracted attention from big-money clubs throughout Europe and there could be a surge for the player’s talents at the tuen of the year.
However, the former Hoops froward, now a media pundit, stresses it would be UNTHINKABLE for the champions to allow their hottest prospect to leave in the middle of a title race when they have their sights set on nine in a row.
STAR FOR COUNTRY…Odsonne Edouard after one of his two goals in midweek.
Sutton, speaking in the Daily Record, said: “Odsonne Edouard’s stock is soaring after another star turn for France Under-21s and Celtic will need to be on their guard.
“The striker has now scored doubles in his last three international games and when you add in his form for his club in Scotland and in Europe it’s not a leap to assume there will be a lengthy queue forming to grab him in January.
“But let’s be clear. It is impossible for Celtic to even consider selling Edouard – even if they received a £50million bid.
“I’m not saying Celtic will get that kind of offer, but the point is it doesn’t matter how much cash is on offer, letting Edouard go in the middle of the season is simply unthinkable.
“Players have been sold at questionable times over the years and there has been uproar on occasions.
“But this would outdo any of those sales. The reaction from supporters would be nuclear.”
Sutton continued: “Celtic are in a title race and it’s going to heat up after the turn of the year. There cannot be any consideration about cashing in on their top asset.
“There will be clubs sniffing around and Edouard’s exploits with France Under 21s will only lead to bigger clubs being on red alert.
“They will have seen Moussa Dembele make the jump to Celtic and the French youth side to top scorer in his homeland.
“There’s no reason to think Edouard can’t follow the same path. I believe he will eventually go for even bigger money than Dembele did.
“The £20million Lyon spent is already looking a bargain.”
STAR FOR CLUB…Odsonne Edouard celebrates another Celtic goal.
Sutton, in fact, believes his old team-mate Neil Lennon MUST splash the cash to strengthen his striking department at the turn of the year while there are still question marks over Leigh Griffiths and Vakoun Issouf Bayo.
He added: “It’s an area Celtic could need to address when the transfer window opens in January and that is even when completely discounting the possibility of selling Edouard.
“Make no mistake, it’s game-on for the title this season. The last couple of weeks have proved it.
“It wasn’t so long ago it seemed Celtic had reinforced their superiority with the win at Ibrox.
“But a couple of poor results against Hibs and Livingston and the pendulum has swung the other way. I’ve got no doubt it will happen a good few times over the course of the campaign.
“There is going to be slip-ups from both sides from time to time. It will come down to which team stumbles the least – not just the Old Firm head-to-heads.
“That was the case last season and will be again this one. Even so, I was surprised to see Celtic slip up at Livi. I know it’s a plastic pitch and an awkward place to go, but that shouldn’t be an excuse.”
