CELTIC’S incoming manager will have to prepare for the new season without Odsonne Edouard.
Hoops goal hero John Hartson is convinced the French striker WILL be on the move in the summer, despite still having another year on his contract to run.
Edouard has had an indifferent campaign and failed to contribute in the crucial first half of the term when the club were knocked out of three competitions – the Champions League, the Europa League and the Betfred League Cup – as well as slipping disastrously in the quest for the historic tenth successive title.
HEAVENS ABOVE…Odsonne Edouard celebrates a goal as he looks to the future.
The 23-year-old frontman, who cost a club record £9million when he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in June 2018, opened the season with a hat-trick in the 5-1 Flag Day romp against Hamilton Accies on August 2. Remarkably, though, it was December 30 against Dundee United before he claimed his next goal from open play when he lobbed in the third in a 3-0 win at Parkhead. His other three strikes up to that point had come from the penalty spot.
Edouard stirred somewhat after the break and has now collected 21 goals and once again is involved in transfer speculation with former boss Brendan Rodgers’ club Leicester City, AC Milan and Premier League strugglers Newcastle and Crystal Palace linked with a summer swoop.
Hartson believes it’s certain the France Under-21 international will leave and he told Go Radio: “We will not be able to keep Edouard, we’ve held on to Edouard with a piece of string really, to be honest with you.
“He’s been so close to leaving. I think his time will come, he will move on.”
