EDOUARD IN £20m TUG-OF-WAR

ODSONNE EDOUARD is at the centre of a £20million tug-of-war between Brighton and Southampton.

The south coast clubs are stepping up their efforts to sign the Celtic frontman with the new Premier League kick-off looming next weekend.

Graham Potter’s Amex Stadium outfit have been on the trail of Edouard for the past four weeks, but they have now been joined by the Saints with manager Ralph Hasenhuttl looking for a replacement for Danny Ings who has just joined Aston Villa in a £25million switch.

The Hoops star, the club’s record transfer signing at £9million when he arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in June 2018 following a season-long loan, is out of contract next summer and has made it clear he wants to quit Parkhead.

Ange Postecoglou left him out of his starting line-up for the Europa League qualifier against Jablonec in the Czech Republic on Thursday when new £4.6million Kyogo Furuhashi took his place and scored the second goal in the 4-2 win.

After four competitive appearances, Edouard has yet to get off the mark in this campaign and it looks clear he will be on his way – as soon as would-be suitors pay the asking price. PSG stand to earn 40 per cent of any profits in the move and a £20million deal would see them collecting £4.4million, according to a report in the Daily Record.

The 23-year-old forward, who claimed 22 goals in the Hoops’ disappointing season last time out, has been sluggish since the start of the term and it is inevitable he will head for the Parkhead exit before the transfer deadline at 11pm on August 31.