MOT View: Leeds must reignite move for explosive £30m-rated striker after dramatic development
One of the more exciting players that Leeds United were linked with last summer was Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard.
It was the Mirror who claimed that Leeds were plotting an ambitious move for the France Under-21 striker.
In the end, a move didn’t materialise for Edouard, with Celtic gunning for their tenth title in a row.
However, the season has been a disaster for the Scottish giants, who are now 19 points behind Rangers in the Premiership. A historic tenth title in a row is looking extremely unlikely now.
Now, in a story in the Scottish Sun, it’s claimed that Edouard is “looking to leave at [the] first opportunity by dramatically changing agents”.
He is now represented by the London-based Stellar Group and the report claims he is looking to line-up a move to a Premier League club in the summer.
The Sun also claims that it’s unlikely that Edouard will leave in this transfer window and that’s perfect for Leeds, who won’t be looking to bring in a marquee striker in January.
However, with Rodrigo playing a deeper role, Leeds definitely need another striker to provide competition and back-up to Patrick Bamford.
The Sun report claims that Celtic would be looking at bids of around £30m for Edouard, a striker who has scored 72 goals in 151 games for Celtic.
MOT Leeds News columnist Paul Robinson said that he would be a “huge, huge signing” for Leeds and that he would be a “next-level” signing.
“He’s still only 22 as well,” Robinson said. “If Leeds are in the market for that kind of player… he’d be a huge, huge signing and I’d love to see him at Leeds. He’d fit perfectly into the team.”
Two things could play into Leeds’ hands.
While Celtic have crumpled this season, Edouard hasn’t had a great season and he won’t be on the lists of the biggest clubs.
Second, he’ll be entering the final year of his contract at Celtic in the summer and that will keep his price down.
The opportunity to play for a sleeping giant like Leeds, with European ambitions, could play into the mind of a young striker who could see Bielsa as the manager to propel him to the top of the game.
We’d love to see Edouard at Leeds and now could be the time to start laying the groundwork for a marquee signing.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Victor Orta should feel ashamed’ – Graham Smyth claims Leeds signed attacker for crazy price