Tottenham Hotspur are in the race to sign Odsonne Edouard, according to emerging reports this weekend...

What's the word?

The Daily Star claim that Spurs are one of several Premier League teams eyeing a move for the prolific Celtic talisman this year, though West Ham could strike this month in a bid to replace Sebastian Haller.

North London rivals Arsenal are also said to be in the running and it is thought that the 23-year-old would rather join an established top-six outfit as he enters the final 18 months of his current deal at Celtic Park.

And Record Sport believes his £30m price tag has dropped in the past year to around £20m given his contract situation and the small regression in goal returns.

Dream Kane heir

A new striker is the least of Jose Mourinho's concerns right now, but if Harry Kane continues to set the ground alight with his impressive exploits, then it's inevitable that some of Europe's elite will come calling.

Recently, former Spurs defender Jonathan Woodgate urged the England captain to join Real Madrid just like he did in 2004, he said: "If Real Madrid come in for you – especially Harry Kane – he has got to go. If he wants to win trophies and get onto that next pedestal of Messi, Ronaldo and that type of player, he has to go."

Meanwhile, Manchester City are thought to be keeping tabs on the 27-year-old's future and could offer €100m (£90m) in the summer, as per BILD's Christian Falk.

And even in the past, Kane has refused to completely rule out an exit from N17, so it's easy to see why Spurs may well be taking an interest in Edouard.

He'd be a like-for-like replacement.

The 6 foot 2 has proven to be a lucrative source of goals for the SPFL champions ever since his arrival in 2018. Indeed, he's bagged 72 goals in 151 appearances, including a strike rate of 11 in 23 games this term, via Transfermarkt.

[snack-amp-story url="https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-and-rumours" title="Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours, injury latest and more!"]

Edouard's former youth coach Jean-Claude Giuntini believes he's improved greatly, he told the BBC: "He also improved in the collective side of the game - preparation of offensive moves, defensive press, ability to come back and defend."

This is almost a mirror image of Kane under Mourinho as the boyhood Spurs star has evolved greatly, often dropping deeper into the no.10 role to allow Heung-min Son to act as an inside-forward on the left flank whilst back in November, he was winning more duels than any Spurs centre-back and fit right in with impressive tackling and clearance numbers too.

He's also very similar in an attacking sense too, Giuntini added: "He had an excellent sense of anticipation which gave him a remarkable ability to read play. And he had a considerable skill for shooting - his efforts were targeted, precise and powerful."

You could be forgiven for thinking that was about Kane, but those are indeed words to describe Edouard, who is also said to often "create panic" amongst the opposition backline.

"Talismanic" and "special talent" are two other phrases used to laud the Frenchman, and again, they only add further weight into why he'd be a dream heir to Kane one day - not to mention, he's similar in stature (one inch taller) and is four years younger.

Daniel Levy and Mourinho both have a major call to make on current back-up striker Carlos Vinicius this summer. They can seal his permanent transfer for a whopping €45m (£40m), as per Goal.

Yes, the Brazilian has fit right in and done a fine job deputising by scoring six goals in only 475 minutes of action, but he's going to cost double the price of Edouard, so it could be wise to let him go back to Benfica in favour of signing the Celtic sensation.

In the long run, that could prove to be one bargain piece of business and given West Ham's desire to sign him, Levy ought to strike sooner rather than later.

AND in other news, Levy have struck dream deal with £45m-rated "born leader" who's been dubbed a Spurs "steal"...