OPINION
If there was one thing we learned from Celtic’s 5-0 drubbing of Rangers on Sunday, it is that the Hoops must look to sign striker Odsonne Edouard permanently this summer.
The 20-year-old was a menace all day, and played a massive part in the win that took Celtic to a seventh-straight Premiership title, being named man-of-the-match.
The Paris Saint-Germain loanee was not even expected to start, with Leigh Griffiths thought to be the man to deputise for the injured Moussa Dembele.
He however seized the golden opportunity to shine with both hands, scoring the opening goal after just 13 minutes when he turned home Kieran Tierney’s low cross.
The young forward then took the game by the scruff of the neck with just five minutes remaining before half-time, running at Russell Martin before firing off a low shot which snuck inside the far post.
Edouard even turned provider for Callum McGregor to net Celtic’s fifth goal, with a couple of neat step-overs on the right flank allowing him to get to the byline and find the midfielder, who slotted home first time.
That double takes Edouard to 13 goals for the season since joining on loan last summer, and that is a seriously impressive return for such a young player who has had to make the most of limited starting opportunities.
It is clear that the club should look to sign him permanently this summer, with the Daily Record reporting that he would cost around £7million.
While that may seem a lot for such a young player, the fact is that Edouard is probably worth more than that after this season and Celtic would be getting a brilliant deal at that price.
With Dembele’s future at the club uncertain, Celtic will need to spend on a striker anyway this summer, and moving for Edouard is a no-brainer for Peter Lawwell.
In fact, it would be criminal for the director to miss out on such a brilliant deal, and one which is staring him right in the face.