Jullien insists Edouard is in no rush to leave Celtic
CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN last night insisted that compatriot Odsonne Edouard will not be seeking a route out of Celtic this summer.
The Premiership’s top scorer and a clear and obvious favourite for Scotland’s player-of-the-year awards before the season was suspended, Edouard has been linked with a host of clubs, including English Premier League side Everton, who have scouted the French striker extensively.
Edouard signed a four-year deal when he completed his £9million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and Celtic boss Neil Lennon has spoken of his desire to tie him down on an improved contract that would both preserve his value and keep him in Glasgow for at least another year.
How the coronavirus pandemic will affect the transfer market, and indeed Celtic’s ability to fund any new contracts, remains to be seen.
But Parkhead defender Jullien, who previously played alongside the 22-year-old at Toulouse, is confident his friend and colleague will remain in Glasgow.
He said: ‘Don’t worry, I am sure Odsonne is good and happy where he is. I’m sure he
will stay. He is silent, he hides what he is feeling and he is someone who controls his emotions.
‘But he is a really good guy, trust me. He is quite happy here.
‘Odsonne is a good player and one day he will have a lot of clubs interested in him, but he is in a really good place right now with Celtic.’
Edouard has developed into a talismanic figure for Celtic after becoming the club’s record signing in the wake of an initial season-long loan under Brendan Rodgers.
This term, he had netted 28 club goals plus a further 11 for the French Under-21 squad and was in blistering form as Celtic closed in on a ninth successive title.
‘Odsonne has done some unbelievable stuff and I really hope that he will still be here,’ added
Jullien. ‘I enjoy playing with him and I want him to stay for as long as he can. That would be unbelievable for everyone at Celtic.
‘He is in a really good place. It’s so difficult just now with the situation. People speak about transfers, but who knows when football will be back? After that, all the other stuff can happen.’
Meanwhile, Jullien insists that Celtic deserve to be crowned champions if the SPFL decided to end the season and award the Premiership title on current standings. At the time the league was suspended, the leaders were 13 points clear with eight games to play.
‘For sure, we all want to finish the league,’ added the Frenchman.
‘The league stopped just before the game against Rangers and we felt so good. We couldn’t wait to play that game. We were on a great run, playing very good football.
‘If the decision is to finish the league and crown us champions, then I think we deserve it.
‘We are 13 points clear and we have shown our strength all through the season.’