The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hoops finally land young PSG hitman
SCOTTISH DEALS: Edouard boost to European campaign
Celtic have finally completed the loan signing of Paris St Germain teenager Odsonne Edouard.
The Hoops have been in talks with the French giants throughout deadline day but finally pushed a deal over the line with less than two hours to go before the midnight cut-off.
Edouard will provide Brendan Rodgers’ squad with some vital extra firepower as they prepare to take on his parent club in the Champions League group stages.
And the exciting 19-year-old, who helped fire France to glory at the European U17 Championship in 2015, could even make a permanent move to Celtic Park if he impresses.
The French Guiana-born hitman spent last season on loan at Toulouse and Rodgers will hope he can quickly find his feet at first-team level, especially with compatriot Moussa Dembele still some weeks away from a return from his hamstring injury.
“I am really looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and we will work hard together to bring our fans as much success as possible,” he said.
Hearts also left it late as they completed a season-long loan deal for Genoa wide man Manuel Milinkovic, their second deadline-day acquisition.
The Jambos had earlier signed Raith Rovers skipper Ross Callachan for an undisclosed fee.
Dario Zanatta headed in the other direction on a 12-month loan.
Defender Jordan McGhee was allowed to complete his move to Falkirk.
Milinkovic said: “I’m very pleased to have joined Hearts. I’m a player who likes having the ball at my feet, to run at opponents and provide assists for my team-mates.”
But there appeared to be stalemate between the Jambos and Rangers over Jamie Walker’s future.
Ibrox boss Pedro Caixinha has been trailing the Tynecastle playmaker all summer but has so far baulked at the Jambos’ £1 million asking price.
Talks resumed yesterday afternoon, with the possibility of Gers offering up a cash sum as well as a player swap mooted.
But Hearts say they have yet to receive an official offer from the Ibrox camp.
Rangers are remaining patient, though, and are confident they will land the player on a pre-contract come January at the very worst.
That could yet prompt Hearts into lowering their valuation of the player closer towards the £600,000 mark which the Light Blues offered in June.
The Light Blues wrapped up a oneyear loan swoop for Cardiff defender Declan John and were also able to offload misfit strike Joe Dodoo to Charlton on a six-month loan deal.
Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson enjoyed a profitable end to the window as his club banked more than £1m.
The sale of defender Ben Heneghan to Sheffield United netted the Steelmen £400,000, while they also landed another £750,000 profit from last summer’s sale of Marvin Johnson to Oxford.
The fleet-footed forward has clinched a £3m switch to Middlesbrough, with a quarter of that fee due to the Steelemen as a result of a sell-on clause inserted into his package.
And there could be further windfalls down the road. Press Association Sport understands Well chiefs have demanded a similar measure be written into the agreement that has taken Heneghan to Bramall Lane.
Robinson – who also fought off Oxford’s attempts to sign winger Chris Cadden – was quick to reinvest some of that jackpot in his squad as he set up deals for midfielder Liam Grimshaw and defender Peter Hartley.
Hibernian boss Neil Lennon missed out on Celtic’s Liam Henderson – but crucially was able to keep hold of Nottingham Forest target John McGinn.
Easter Road chief executive Leeann Dempster posted on Twitter: “No more business expected, in or out, this window. Very happy with how we’re shaping up for the season.”
Aberdeen’s only business saw them move on frontman Jayden Stockley to Exeter, while Partick Thistle made a late swoop for Paul McGinn.
Hamilton also took the opportunity to strengthen their squad, signing Swansea’s former Scotland U19 forward Botti Biabi on a loan deal until January, while Dundee made a similar move for Shrewsbury striker AJ Leitch-Smith.