Odsonne Edouard: West Ham United pushing for £35m transfer of Celtic striker
David Moyes would face serious headaches at West Ham United with a successful move to sign Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard in the January transfer window.
What’s the word?
According to the Daily Star, the Irons are pushing plans to lure Edouard to the London Stadium in the club’s search for a replacement for Sebastien Haller.
Edouard is seen to tick all of the boxes that the London Stadium outfit are targeting in the mid-season market, after Moyes had the Frenchman scouted on several occasions.
Should West Ham sign Celtic's Edouard?
Yes, he has real potential
No, his head won't be in it
West Ham believe Edouard has the potential to flourish south of the border, but face paying as much as £35m to seal a deal for the striker Celtic signed from Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain for just £10m in 2018.
Edouard is thought to be desperate to test himself in the Premier League after scoring 72 goals in 151 games for the Hoops across all competitions, and he also has his eyes set on a move to London.
But the 23-year-old would prefer to sign for an established top-six club and while north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal are keen, neither are prepared to consider launching raids on Parkhead until the summer.
Reports by talkSPORT have also put Leicester City forward as an interested party after Brendan Rodgers’ time working with Edouard at Celtic, and claim the striker may be available for just £20m as he has 18-months remaining on his contract.
Edouard is reluctant to put pen to paper on new terms for his Scottish Premiership powerhouse, who the Daily Star believe are now ready to cash-in as a result if the right offer comes their way.
Should West Ham sign Edouard?
With Haller’s departure leaving Michail Antonio as Moyes’ only recognised senior striker, the Irons are certainly in need of forward cover in the winter market but must pursue any interest in Edouard with caution.
Former Scotland defender Alan Hutton recently suggested Edouard’s form has deteriorated this season as a result of the speculation over his future, with the former U21 international going from a goal every 102 minutes in the Premiership last season to one every 151 minutes this term.
“We had all the talk about Edouard at the start of season wanting to leave – has his head been on it? Has he been the same player that he was last year? No,” Hutton told Football Insider. “We see moments of brilliance, but not of the impact of last season.”
Beyond that, former Rangers midfielder Ian McGarry has claimed Edouard has looked “unhappy” this season and that sides will soon start to feel he is not as good as he thinks he is, as the 23-year-old has failed to rediscover his form.
There are also the claims that Edouard favours a transfer to an established top-six club, so accepting a move to West Ham would only see him use the Irons as a stepping stone and one that Ian McGarry, while speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast, believes he has no interest in playing for.
Edouard may have scored freely in recent years for Celtic and has the world at his feet at 23, but will he solve West Ham’s offensive issues? That remains to be seen, as the view from Scotland would suggest the Frenchman would only prove to be a headache for Moyes.
AND in other news, West Ham consider January bid for “phenomenal” striker boasting 15 goals in 19 games.
Article title: Odsonne Edouard: West Ham United pushing for £35m transfer of Celtic striker
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