RODGERS WON’T RUSH INTO EDOUARD BUY
elsewhere, he sees no need to trigger an option to sign Edouard on a permanent contract just yet. ‘I will just assess it at the end of the season,’ said Rodgers. ‘I have been really impressed by him and he is getting better and better each week. ‘The boy has big talent and is a real worker as well. He works very hard for the team and he’s the type of performer I like. ‘His English is getting better through lessons and he’s still very young at 19. So, he has a lot of potential there. ‘I don’t have any qualms if I have to put him into a game to play. ‘He has grown each week he has been with us. ‘It’s just a case of assessing it. There’s no rush. ‘It’s for both sides as well — he might love it with us, he might not. ‘I know he is really enjoying it but there is no rush to commit on either side now. It’s just a case of seeing how it goes in the second half of the season and we will review it then.’ With Dembele and Griffiths already vying for one place up front, Rodgers drafted in Edouard in a bid to strengthen his options and keep the pair on their toes. ‘We had a situation last year where we only had two strikers,’ said Rodgers. ‘It’s a real tough balancing act. I don’t think you can bring in a third striker who is an experienced player. ‘You are looking for a young talent with big potential who knows where he sits in the hierarchy, but he’s always ready. ‘By virtue of that, it has kept Moussa and Leigh fitter than they were last year. ‘Normally, when one was playing and one wasn’t, it can sometimes psychologically affect them, but if you have another one who can then jump over the two, the two know they have to be on their toes all of the time.’ Edouard scored on his debut against Hamilton, then helped himself to a hat-trick against Motherwell in a 5-1 home win last month. Asked if the striker has banged on his door demanding a game, Rodgers shook his head. ‘No, I communicate with the players a lot, so we know where we are at,’ he said. ‘He is a very humble boy. ‘He has come in very football bright. ‘He works hard and, like I say, he is improving and understands where he is fitting in and what his role is. ‘He knows I will play him and be prepared to play him.’ Celtic, meanwhile, have had no contact from Lazio despite reports the Serie A club want defender Jozo Simunovic. Italian reports claim the Parkhead centre-half is on a list of potential replacements for Stefan de Vrij.
BRENDAN RODGERS claims Celtic are in no rush to pay what would be their biggest ever transfer fee of £7million for Odsonne Edouard. The 19-year-old French striker is halfway through a year-long loan at Parkhead from Paris Saint-Germain. Rodgers is satisfied with the teenager’s progress after four goals in ten appearances but, despite interest in Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths from