Paris Saint-Germain striker Odsonne Edouard is undergoing a medical at Celtic ahead of a last-day transfer, according to the Mail.
The newspaper’s deadline day transfer blog (9.43am) claims the forward, 19, is on the verge of wrapping up a season-long loan to the Scottish treble winners.
Eduoard is expected to finalise a loan deal to become Brendan Rodgers’ second forward signing of the week following Patrick Roberts’ long-anticipated return to the club on Monday.
Edouard, a powerful spearhead who is product of the PSG academy, is yet to feature for the first team but he is a French youth international and was player of the tournament and top scorer at the 2015 Euro Under-17s.
Good move for Celtic?
With doubts over Mousa Dembele’s fitness and medium-term commitment to the Hoops and Leigh Griffiths suffering from calf problems, Celtic need a third orthodox striker option. Edouard has the chance to make a name for himself in Scotland and could even be his fellow Frenchman’s long-term successor as the spearhead of the Celtic attack. It remains to be seen if he will shine in Scotland, but he has pedigree, has been developed at one of Europe’s leading clubs and his physical assets of strength and pace should make him a handful for opposition defences.
This Is Futbol rating: 7/10
Likely to happen?
Yes, almost certainly. With a medical reportedly underway, this deal is as good as done. Credit to Celtic, whose transfer market activity is a byword for shrewd bargain hunting, for taking advantage of PSG’s need to comply with financial fair play regulations. Having signed Neymar from Barcelona for £196million and close to capturing the signature of Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe for £140million, Qatari-owned PSG are now prepared to loan out their best emerging talents. It is now surely inevitable that Celtic will push this deal over the finishing line by the 11pm deadline.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10