Celtic went on to clinch their ninth successive Scottish Premiership title last month after the SFA cancelled the season in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Hoops were the deserved winners as they were 13 points clear at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more than second-placed Rangers
One of the primary architects behind Celtic’s success this season has been their young French striker Odsonne Edouard, who managed to score as many as 21 goals in 27 league games, besides setting up 12 more for his teammates.
Edouard joined Celtic from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain on a loan deal in 2017 before the Scottish outfit made his permanent the following summer. Following his impressive performances at Celtic Park, the 22-year-old has been linked with a move away from the club.
While Celtic are keen to hold on to one of their brightest prospects, they know well that the lure of playing for a bigger club will be hard for the youngster to resist.
England, in fact, is believed to be the Frenchman’s next possible destination, with Arsenal and Leicester City credited with showing interest in Odsonne Edouard. Newcastle United are also in the race, with the Magpies tipped to table a £25 million bid for the player to take him to St James’s Park.
While Celtic will be keen to keep him at the club, reports suggest that they have already started looking for alternatives. 24-year-old striker Shon Weissman, who plays for Austrian outfit Wolfsberger AC, has been touted as a possible replacement for Edouard.
In case Odsonne Edouard decides to seek a move to the Premier League, which club between Arsenal and Leicester CITY will suit him the most?
Arsenal
Pros
Chance to link up with former team-mate Kieran Tierney
Arsenal signed Kieran Tierney from Celtic back last summer for a reported £25 million fee. Although the full-back is yet to find his footing at the Emirates, owing to injury issues, he could prove to be useful in helping Odsonne Edouard settle down in north London, making the adaptation process easier.
Most players coming from other countries find it difficult to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League initially. Therefore, the presence of a known face can prove to be vital, in case the 22-year-old striker wants to move to Arsenal.
Taking an important role from the very beginning
With just a year left in his current contract, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer, with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain interested in him.
In case Aubameyang leaves and the Gunners manage to sign Edouard, the young Frenchman could go on to become one of manager Mikel Arteta’s main man upfront alongside Alexandre Lacazette.
Cons
Pressure of playing at a big club of Arsenal’s stature
At 22, Odsonne Edouard needs to keep playing regularly. However, at Arsenal, his chances could well be limited. Even if Aubameyang leaves, the Gunners will want to bring in a more recognised striker. In case Arteta deploys Edouard as his premier striker, the pressure to deliver will be high and it might take a toll on the youngster’s performance.
Leicester City
Pros
Chance to play under former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
It was Brendan Rodgers, the current Leicester City manager, who signed Odsonne Edouard from PSG back in 2017, initially on a season-long loan deal. He then made the Celtic hierarchy break the club’s transfer record to snap up the youngster on a permanent deal a year later.
It was in fact, under the stewardship of Rodgers, that the 22-year-old matured to become a mainstay in Celtic’s attack. Now, a reunion can turn out to be more than beneficial for the youngster in terms of progress in his career.
To be part of something special at Leicester
Jamie Vardy has been the main man up front for Leicester City for years now. At 33, the Englishman is in the twilight of his career and the Foxes would do well to search a replacement for him.
Rodgers is currently building a team which can challenge the traditional top six teams in England. Being placed third on the Premier League table at the moment, the process is already underway and players such as James Maddison and Youri Tielemans are part of it.
With such quality performers by his side, there is no reason for Edouard to not flourish further and secure a move to an even bigger club in the future.
Cons
Association with Leicester City will significantly decrease Edouard’s chances of winning silverware on a consistent basis. At Celtic, the youngster has got accustomed to having the winner’s medal around his neck. The same thing happened at PSG as well, in spite of his reduced game time at the Parc des Princes.
Moreover, the Premier League isn’t always kind to players coming from other leagues. The physical nature of the game in England’s top flight often takes a toll on the fitness of the players.
So, Edsonne Edourard will need to weigh up his options before deciding on a move to the King Power Stadium.
Verdict
Taking all the pros and cons into consideration, a move to Leicester City would do more good to the young Celtic striker than joining Arsenal.
