According to transfer expert Ian McGarry, Newcastle are “interested” in signing Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard this summer.
The 22-year-old is expected to leave Celtic Park this summer and has been attracting interest from around Europe – not least the Premier League.
Currently, Newcastle are awaiting the finalisation of the PIF’s £300m takeover of the club but that hasn’t stopped transfer speculation. McGarry, who was speaking to The Transfer Window podcast, said NUFC are “determined” to invest wisely this summer and not use a “scattergun” approach.
He said: “There is interest from Newcastle United who are determined to make sensible investments regarding player recruitment rather than using the scattergun approach which other Premier League clubs who have been taken over and invested in by nation states or indeed wealthy individuals [have used].”
Edouard has managed to bag himself 27 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions during the course of the 2019/20 season – albeit in a far lesser league than the Premier League. Despite that, he’s proven he can find the back of the net and, as a result, he’ll command a hefty pricetag.
“Edouard is valued at £40m by Celtic but of course in this current market they’re unlikely to achieve that kind of figure for the player,” said McGarry.
The transfer expert went on to talk about the player’s ambitions, telling listeners that he has his eyes set on moving to a club wherein he will be able to play football on a regular basis.
“Newcastle are still waiting for their takeover to be confirmed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund but are very keen to take Edouard, partly on the basis that he is someone who wants to play football every week,” added McGarry.
“He and his representatives have stated to interested parties that he doesn’t want to go to a club where he will be second or third choice, he wants to develop his career in a very constructive and progressive way.
“Money is not the be-all and end-all at this stage in his career and also obviously a move from Glasgow to Newcastle for the France striker would not be as much as a shock I suspect.”
It sounds as though the lad has his head screwed on as he looks to find a club wherein he can develop his talents properly and progress his career naturally – that’s a massive green light to me.
Edouard is a very decent goalscorer who’d certainly be more at home in the out and out number nine role that we’ve watched Joelinton struggle to adapt to this season. To me, this would be mark a very decent first signing for the new owners – if and when the takeover reaches a conclusion.
Obviously the takeover hasn’t even been approved yet, so Newcastle are still a long way off moves like this one becoming a reality – but it’s a far more realistic move than some of the links we’ve seen so far this summer. I’m much more likely to believe we’re looking at player’s like Edouard than I am to believe we’ve approached Gareth bloody Bale.
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