DAVIE HAY reckons it is inevitable that Odsonne Edouard will leave Celtic for colossal cash at some stage – but he insists it will be a win-win situation.
The French striker is the Hoops’ key performer as they drive towards a phenomenal quadruple treble with another step being taken this afternoon with their Scottish Cup meeting with League One part-timers Clyde at Broadwood.
The champions already have a seven-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle and the League Cup was won with a Christopher Jullien strike against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox outfit at Hampden in December.
Edouard hoisted this term’s goal tally to 24 when he fired in a breathtaking free-kick in the 4-0 triumph over Motherwell at Fir Park in midweek.
GOAL-DEN BHOY…Odsonne Edouard celebrates his 24th strike of the season.
Legendary former Celtic manager and player Hay, who is recovering from a kidney transplant operation, as CQN reported, told the Evening Times: “Odsonne Edouard has really come into his own this season.
“When he first came to Celtic, he played in the shadow of Moussa Dembele a little bit, and he was very young. He has now bedded in and without question is Celtic’s main man.
“He has a lot of pace and is deceptively strong, too. Dembele had real brute strength and of course could score goals too, but I would say that Edouard is a bit silkier and has more technical ability.
“I’m not comparing the players at all, Dembele was sensational in his own right, but I think that Edouard is getting to that level that Dembele reached before he moved on and you know it is now a matter of time before Edouard moves on, too.
“I think he is ready to go to a real top club. I know that players have had success going to perhaps a smaller club in a bigger league first, like Virgil van Dijk and Victor Wanyama when they went to Southampton before moving up again, but I think Edouard has the ability to play at the very highest level right now.
“It would be great to see him staying another year at Celtic, but the way he is playing, he is going to create interest.
“Part of the deal when players like Edouard come to Celtic is that if you do well, you will eventually move on – and that works to everyone’s benefit.
“Celtic have got good money by operating such a system and you hope that perhaps some of the boys they have now signed can also go on and get to that level of an Edouard or a Dembele.
“The chances are that Edouard will move on this summer, but if he does, it has been a real pleasure to watch his development and just to watch him play football.
SO CLOSE…Odsonne Edouard is thwarted on this occasion by Well keeper Mark Gillespie.
“Celtic have really been spoiled with the strikers they have had over the past wee while, and I hope we get to watch this blossoming partnership between Edouard and Leigh Griffiths for a little while longer yet.”
Hay, meanwhile, turned his attention to Cumbernauld and added: “No Celtic fan needs reminding about the perils of a Cup-tie against Clyde, but I can’t see anything other than a routine win in the Scottish Cup game at Broadwood. Celtic will be too strong.
“I actually work alongside their assistant manager Allan Moore, who led Morton to a League Cup shock over Celtic before. He’s a good lad and I know they are all delighted with the tie and are looking forward to it.
“They will make a good bit of money, while Celtic should get through without too many problems, so everyone should be a winner come this evening.”
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Clyde v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
