Arsenal are leading the race to sign Celtic’s prolific striker, Odsonne Edouard. The 22-year-old Frenchman has scored 60 goals in 126 appearances for the club since signing from Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Express, the Gunners are the favourites to land the forward, and the north London club could sign him for under £40 million. Newcastle United are also interested in signing Edouard in the summer transfer window.
Odsonne Edouard came through the ranks at PSG, before joining Celtic on loan in 2017. He was signed by the Scottish giants the following season, and his current contract with the club expires in 2022. The Celtic star has been prolific for the French U21 side, scoring 11 goals in 7 appearances, but is yet to debut for the senior team.
Odsonne Edouard: A shrewd choice by Arteta?
Odsonne Edouard has managed to grab a lot of eyeballs while playing for Celtic over the last two seasons. The 22-year-old has scored bucketloads of goals but has also shown that he is a player that can do a lot more than just put the ball in the back of the net. The strong striker likes to drop deep and influence the play. He is a decent passer when he drops deep, while he loves to dribble and take on opposition defenders.
He may not possess the lightning pace of Aubameyang, but he has good close control and strength to brush off defenders and drive into the box. His good link-up play would make him a good fit in Arsenal’s style of play. Edouard is also a composed finisher and is good with both feet. He is also good in the air.
The futures of both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are up in the air at the moment even though the former has calmed the fans after appearing to rule out a move anytime soon. The Gunners, even with the presence of their two experienced strikers, need another striker, who can offer something different. Edouard is young, strong, energetic, and is a player that could fit in well in the Arsenal starting XI.
The Gunners do not possess the same financial clout in the transfer market as most of their top 6 rivals, which means they will have to search for bargain buys and buy young players who have potential, which is what Odsonne Edouard is to an extent. The step up from the Scottish league to the Premier League will be a big one, but Edouard may have what it takes to be a success in England and will certainly relish teaming up with a young manager with seemingly fresh and innovative ideas.
