OPINION
Just hours after Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers declared his intention to move for Odsonne Edouard in a ‘doable’ deal this summer, a report emerged to suggest that such a move is on the verge of collapse.
The Daily Mail claim that Edouard’s parent club Paris Saint-Germain are locked in negotiations with Portuguese top-flight side Vitoria Guiamaraes to become a satellite club for their young players.
The newspaper report that the 20-year-old striker is at the top of Guimaraes’ list of players they want to take on loan, which would scupper Celtic’s attempts to take him permanently this summer.
It is said that Celtic agreed a price with PSG for Edouard last summer, but the Ligue 1 giants hold a veto over any eventual move, and that may now see the 6ft 2in marksman end up in Portugal next season.
Edouard has been brilliant for Celtic in his debut season in Scotland, and it is easy to see why Rodgers rates him so highly and wants to wrap up a permanent deal.
The 20-year-old has netted eight goals in 25 appearances for the Hoops so far, with his highlight moment coming with a fantastic winning goal v Rangers in the Old Firm derby.
His potential is clear to see, and there is no doubt that Celtic would be a good place for him to continue his development next season, with compatriot Moussa Dembele likely to leave Parkhead.
However, the likelihood of him remaining in Glasgow now seems to have taken a hit, but the situation is surely still salvageable for Celtic, and Peter Lawwell must pull out all the stops to secure his future at Paradise.
Firstly, Celtic must assess the option of trying to secure another season-long loan for Edouard. It is clear that PSG would rather keep hold of the striker, with a loan deal to Guimaraes now on the cards, so why not try to convince them to sanction another year in Scotland?
Edouard is happy in Glasgow, and his development would surely benefit from being at Parkhead rather than in Portugal, where he will likely be mired in a relegation fight.
If that does not work, then Celtic must be prepared to shell out a handsome amount for Edouard. They will need to table an offer that will turn heads at PSG, and convince them that a sale is the best option.
The club are likely to be flush with money from a Dembele sale, so why not use it to secure the man who could be the perfect replacement for him?
Either way, Lawwell must do whatever it takes to secure his signature this summer, or Celtic could agonisingly miss out on a star of the future.