Celtic to block any moves for striker Odsonne Edouard despite Newcastle United leading list of Premier League suitors as Neil Lennon’s side look to land historic 10th title in a row
- Newcastle United were willing to spend big money to land Odsonne Edouard
- Crystal Palace and Leicester City have also been interested in the 22-year-old
- Celtic have refused to do business while they have chance to secure 10-in-a-row
- Tom Rogic could be set for Parkhead exit, with Brighton keen on the midfielder
Celtic have issued a hands-off warning to English predators eyeing a move for Odsonne Edouard as midfielder Tom Rogic edges closer to the Parkhead exit door.
Newcastle United are in the market for a new striker this summer and manager Steve Bruce was willing to spend big on the Parkhead talisman.
But Celtic have warned that they won’t consider selling their star man while ten-in-a-row is on the line and the Magpies have now accepted any move won’t happen this window.
Celtic are desperate to keep hold of striker Odsonne Edouard despite wide interest in him
Manager Neil Lennon hopes the France Under 21 star can inspire the charge for 10-in-a-row
Crystal Palace and Leicester City have also been credited with an interest in the France Under 21 international, with speculation increasing after the Scottish champions agreed to pay £5m for West Ham’s Albian Ajeti.
After recommending the 22-year-old to his father Steve, however, former Kilmarnock defender Alex Bruce claims the Parkhead club have refused to even discuss a price for the striker after he scored his fourth goal in three games against KR Reykjavik on Tuesday night.
Bruce told the Football Insider website: ‘I don’t think he’ll leave. I’ve got it on pretty good authority that I don’t think he’s going to go anywhere.
‘Celtic have really dug their heels in, totally, by all accounts people can’t even get a price for him. If they can keep him, which they’re digging their heels in to try and keep him, it would be fantastic for Celtic.
Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce had been interested in bringing Edouard to St James’ Park
‘They’ll want to go and do well and Europe and cement that 10-in-a-row that they’re desperate to do this season. Apparently all the players you might think might be of interest to other clubs.’
One player who is heading for the exit is midfielder Rogic. The Scottish champions have a €4million (£3.6m) offer from an unnamed club in Qatar.
However, the Australian international could still be used as a makeweight in Celtic’s bid to land Irish international defender Shane Duffy from Brighton.
Quoted £2m to loan the no-nonsense central defender on loan, the Scottish champions are now in a two-way fight with West Ham for his services.
The Scottish champions though are set to offload out of favour midfielder Tom Rogic
Yet to make an appearance for this season, Rogic has been an unused substitute in two of Celtic’s three games so far.
The playmaker arrived in 2013 and has made close to 200 appearances for the club – scoring the goal which sealed the first of three trebles under Brendan Rodgers.
Out of favour under Neil Lennon, his time in Scotland appears to be drawing to a close and that could persuade Celtic to action their long-standing interest in Motherwell midfielder David Turnbull after a number of recent scouting checks.