Aston Villa must seize their perfect chance to sign Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard in this summer's transfer window.

What's the story?

Reports in recent months have linked Dean Smith's side with a move for the Frenchman, and now there has been a major update on his long-term future at Celtic Park.

Eurosport claim that "Edouard is being touted to clubs across England ahead of a potential summer transfer but there seems to be little concrete interest."

It's added that a deal to land the striker would be around the £20m mark, and while "it had been expected that there would be a tussle to sign him...at this stage that does not seem to be the case".

Dean Smith will be buzzing

In Edouard, Villa would land themselves someone who's been incredibly prolific in his fledgeling career. As well as bagging 20 goals in just 34 games this season - and that too for a Celtic side in turmoil and way off the pace behind Rangers - he's scored 82 goals in 179 senior games in total.

His former boss at Celtic, Neil Lennon, has raved about the kind of importance he holds at Celtic Park, showering him with praise after one real stand-out display against Ross County.

He said: "He's hugely important (to us), he's an outstanding footballer, talismanic almost, he's so talented, so cool and he had two great finishes. He's up there with some of the best we've had over the last 20 odd years."

Given Villa have been so heavily reliant on Ollie Watkins up top - he's played in every single Premier League game thus far this season - bringing in Edouard would lift a massive burden off the striker's shoulders.

With the suggestion that teams aren't falling over themselves just yet to sign Edouard, it's all perfectly set up for Villa to have a clear run at the Frenchman and get a deal done.

And landing him this summer would surely have Smith buzzing at having another top-quality striker in his ranks.

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