NEIL LENNON has revealed Celtic have plans to act if – or when – Odsonne Edouard heads for the Celtic exit.
The French talisman has been at the centre of the usual whirlwind of transfer speculation in recent months with envious eyes cast in the direction of the striker who claimed 28 goals last season.
Edouard will lead the team in this afternoon’s Premiership opener against Hamilton Accies on Flag Day at Parkhead with the champions kicking off their quest for a historic tenth successive title.
In recent seasons, the Hoops have raked in almost £45million in the sales of fans’ favourites Moussa Dembele to Lyon and Kieran Tierney, an English FA Cup winner with Arsenal yesterday.
It’s a big-money exodus that goes back to the days when Pat Crerand left to join Denis Law at Old Trafford in the early sixties and has continued throughout the years with Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool), Davie Hay (Chelsea), Lou Macari and Brian McClair (Manchester United), Charlie Nicholas (Arsenal) up until more recent times with the likes of Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama, Virgil van Dijk and Stuart Armstrong all shifting to Southampton.
Edouard, 22, who joined in a club record £9million from Paris Saint-Germain in June 2018 and still has two years to run on his contract, could be next to join the star trek.
Giving an update on the flamboyant attacker’s situation, Lennon, speaking to the Sunday Mail, said: “It’s as you were with Edouard’s deal.
“There has been no further movement one way or another on it.
“But whether it’s Odsonne or any other player – like in previous years when we sold guys like Dembele and Tierney – we’ll be prepared for it.
“There may be intense speculation around some of our players, so we have to plan ahead.
“That’s what we do, it’s like a circular motion.
“We have to keep the wheels moving and be prepared for any eventuality when the market opens.
“It’s going to be a long transfer window until October. There will be pros and cons. You just don’t know, a club could come in and show real interest in one of your players.
“Then you have to play a waiting game to see if they’re going to bid or if it’s just unsettling for the player involved.
“I don’t know how it will pan out, but we’ll have to adapt.”
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Hamilton Accies today – only in your champion CQN.
