EDOUARD’S PARTING SHOT

ODSONNE EDOUARD could kick his last ball for Celtic in the High Noon shoot-out at Ibrox this afternoon.

The transfer race for the 23-year-old French ace is hotting up and, according to reports, Crystal Palace have launched a £15million bid for the striker who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Bordeaux, Everton, Brighton and Russian giants Rubin Kazan are also monitoring the player’s situation with the 11pm transfer deadline on Tuesday coming up fast, as CQN reported yesterday.

THAT’S MY BHOY…Ange Postecoglou has a word with Odsonne Edouard.

It looks likely that this afternoon could be Edouard’s last hurrah as a Hoops star with the curtain about to fall on his career in the east end of Glasgow following his club record £9million arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in June 2018 after an impressive year-long loan spell.

And boss Ange Postecoglou is poised to give the forward the opportunity to go out in a blaze of glory against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox outfit.

The Greek-Australian gaffer said: “No-one can tell me they are watching Odsonne play at the moment and say he is not giving everything.

“Even on Thursday in Alkmaar, I thought he came on and made a difference for us.

“We didn’t start with him because I felt they would come at us and with Kyogo Furuhashi and Liel Abada’s speed and Ryan Christie wide we could get into the space behind them and cause some problems.

“I had the feeling we’d need Odsonne later to hold the ball up and he did his job superbly.

“He scored on the weekend, he is in good form. You know there is no hesitation whatsoever for me to select him today.”

HEAD BHOY…Odsonne Edouard knocks one past Allan McGregor at Ibrox last season.

Postecoglou has not completely given up hope of keeping Edouard and Christie, who is a free agent at the turn of the year, in this window, despite the intense speculation.

However, once again he said he will not beg with the players to remain at the club.

The Hoops boss, speaking to the Scottish Sun on Sunday, added: “I will be happy if they all stay. I’ve said before that I am not going to convince anyone to stay, but they are quality players.

“He and Ryan are the ones people are speaking about most and they have both been fantastic since I have come in, with their attitude and the way they train.

“If they stay, great, but these are decisions for them. They know what is best for their careers and their lives.

“If it so happens they leave in this window then they do so on the best terms. They have given everything for the shirt.

“If they stay, brilliant. They are two quality players who will add to what we have.”

The Parkhead side have already lined up £2.5million Greek striker Georgios Giakoumakis from Dutch club VVV-Venlo as a replacement for Edouard.

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