Celts may lose out on Edouard

BRENDAN RODGERS’ desire to make Odsonne Edouard a permanent Celtic player could be scuppered by a potential tie-up between Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes and the striker’s parent club Paris Saint-Germain.

Edouard is on loan at Celtic from PSG until the end of the season and Rodgers admits he has already decided that he wants to keep the 20-year-old, who has scored eight goals this term.

Celtic agreed a fee with the French champions last August but, as the Parkhead boss admits, PSG retain a right to veto the transfer.

The Parisians’ sporting director Antero Henrique has been in talks with the hierarchy at Vitoria with a view to establishing a satellite home for the club’s younger players, with further talks

taking place in midweek. Sources in Portugal report that Edouard, under contract at PSG until the summer of 2020, tops a list of players the Primeira Liga outfit would like to take.

Although Edouard has not been a regular starter, Rodgers insists the scale of his potential would make him an ideal signing for the Premiership leaders.

‘There’s no question for me,’ said Rodgers. ‘He’s a player you always want. A boy at that age, with those qualities, he’s only going to get better.

‘But we have to respect his club — he’s a signed player for PSG. They might have other plans, so it’s something that we’ll speak to them about. There’s an option there, but there’s other bits around it which will need clarifying. But it’s a deal that is doable.’

Edouard returns to the scene of his goalscoring debut for Celtic against Hamilton today and could start as Rodgers picks a team with next weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers in mind.

The match winner in last month’s league derby at Ibrox, Rodgers insists the forward has shown signs of development despite his limited game time.

‘I do know that he’s loving his time here,’ continued Rodgers. ‘He’s taken to living in Glasgow and settled in really well, he never misses a day of training and he works very hard. The boys love him, and you can see that he’s really settled and enjoying it.

‘According to the people in Paris, they’ve seen him become a man in his time here. You can only hope that you can continue with that player at your club.’

Edouard has largely been kept out of the Celtic team by compatriot Moussa Dembele, while Leigh Griffiths has also returned to fitness.

Rodgers insists his versatility gives him an advantage over the other two, adding: ‘He’s one of the best I’ve worked with.

‘That doesn’t automatically get you into a place, but what he can do is play in a number of positions. There’s so much growth left in him and he’s only going to get better.’