Odsonne Edouard
Odsonne Edouard is BETTER than Moussa Dembele and will leave Celtic for more than £25million insists Kris Commons
Former Hoops playmaker says the French striker will leave Parkhead
Scott McDermott
(Image: PA)
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Kris Commons reckons Celtic will get upwards of £25million for striker Odsonne Edouard when he eventually leaves Parkhead.
But he doesn't expect the free-scoring Frenchman to be going anywhere soon and believes he'll be the key to the club's Europa League hopes.
Neil Lennon's side go to Edouard's homeland on Thursday night to take on Rennes in their opening Group E game.
With Italian cracks Lazio and Champions League conquerers Cluj to come, Commons expects the Hoops to qualify.
But he believes that could be dependant on Edouard's fitness and form over the next few months.
The 21-year-old – who scored in the Old Firm win at Ibrox then notched again for France's
Under-21 side in midweek – is in red-hot form.
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Commons feels Edouard could prove to be a better player than ex-Celtic hitman Moussa Dembele who was sold to Lyon for £20m.
The former Celtic playmaker said: "In terms of getting out of the Europa League group, the game changer will be if Edouard stays fit. If he picks up an injury – because he's still a young kid playing a lot of football – it would be a huge blow.
"If he doesn't, they've a real good opportunity to progress.
"I really rate Edouard and I remember speaking to Scott Brown back when there was talk of Dembele leaving.
"Odsonne was still on loan from Paris St-Germain. I asked Broony how he was getting
on and he said that he was going to be better than Dembele.
"He said: 'Yeah, because Edouard's got everything'.
"And he has. He's powerful, a great runner.
"He can hold it in and link up play. He can also score with both feet.
"It's not arrogance but he's got that bit of swagger that you need to be a top player.
"Edouard is improving with every performance I see. He's more of a natural goal threat.
"When he first arrived at the club he'd go out on the wing and drift out of games.
"He's now become that focal point for Celtic's attack. He's a pivotal player."
At his peak, Commons would have fancied playing in the hole behind a classy player like Edouard.
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And when Australian international Tom Rogic returns to Lennon's first team, he can't wait to see him link up with the French forward.
But he knows that keeping hold of him could be the manager's toughest job.
Commons said: "I'd have loved to play in behind him.
"We saw glimpses of him and Moussa as a partnership before Dembele left.
"He likes to play off other players and I'd expect him to strike up good relationships with people like James Forrest and Mikey Johnston.
"When Rogic gets back fully fit, he will certainly thrive on working with Edouard, in terms of one-twos, through balls and linking up play.
"Celtic will have a job trying to keep hold of him. But he is still quite young.
"The club are in a very good financial position so there's no reason to sell Odsonne at any point during the next year.
"But his reputation is growing, not just in Scotland but at international level and across the world.
"He's creating a lot of noise and there will be clubs watching him on a regular basis.
"But when Celtic have spent £9m to get him from PSG, you'd be looking at double that to get him.
"Kieran Tierney went for £25m but paying that for Odsonne would be a snip for clubs.
"He ticks every single box and he's only going to get better."
Even though both Old Firm clubs will compete in UEFA's secondary competition this term, Commons feels Celtic have the quality to play in the Champions League group phase.
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But he insists squandering millions of pounds on players who weren't good enough over the years, has cost the club a place at Europe's top table.
He said: "Right now, Celtic have a better opportunity of reaching the Champions League group stage than Rangers.
"But it all comes down to finances and how well it's invested into the squad.
"It's not for lack of trying on Celtic's part. But they've spent a lot of money in the last few years on bang average players.
"Millions have gone on guys like Derk Boerrigter, Marvin Compper, Eboue Kouassi, Mo Bangura to name a few.
"They've had the odd player on loan who's lit it up, like Patrick Roberts, but they lost him because he's a top player.
"They're trying but with the TV income – I think Norwegian clubs get more from TV than Scottish clubs – it's very difficult for Celtic and Rangers.
"It's tough to attract players who can get more money elsewhere – as well as trying to convince them that they're a Champions League club when they've not actually been there for a while."
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