da dobrowin： According to The Scottish Sun, Crystal Palace have identified Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard as a potential January signing, while Roy Hodgson also holds an interest in Rangers hitman Alfredo Morelos.
da 888casino： Edouard – who has nine goals in just four appearances for France’s U21 side – has been in exquisite form for the Bhoys this term having netted 12 times, while also registering 12 assists.
It is believed that the south Londoners are plotting a £20m swoop for the 21-year-old striker, and this report states that Edouard is the Eagles’ first-choice in terms of finding someone to ease the club’s goalscoring woes – Hodgson’s side are the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League this season with just ten goals in 12 outings.
Celtic reportedly don’t want to lose Edouard in January as they enter the Europa League knockout stages and also fight for the Scottish Premiership title.
So, would Edouard be a good signing for Palace?
Billy Meyers
“I think the Frenchman would be an excellent addition to Palace’s squad, and would also help solve more problem than just their lack of having someone to finish off chances. Edouard, along with his 12 goals, has also notched 12 assists, showcasing how he can also create chances as well as score them. As much as Palace need a goalscorer, they also need a creator just as badly having conjured up the least ‘big chances’ in the Premier League this season.
“The Eagles are also second behind only Newcastle in the xG table for least expected goals with 11.96, which is only 1.96 more than they have actually scored – in this respect, Edouard would be a shrewd capture as he has many strings to his bow rather than just goalscoring.”
Lewis Blain
“A striker this January appears to be high on Hodgson’s wishlist but the veteran manager needs to be cool and calculated about it – for too long they have had to suffer. It speaks volumes when their top goalscorer last season was defensive midfielder Luka Milivojevic as he netted 12 times, mostly from the penalty spot. This term, Christian Benteke is yet to even get off the mark while Jordan Ayew is tasked with leading the line having bagged four so far.
“However, a move for Edouard would be a huge risk. The 21-year-old may have scored 12 times in 24 appearances for Celtic with the majority coming in the Scottish Premiership – a league that just isn’t comparable to the Premier League – but he would also come with a huge weight of expectation as Palace have clearly long-desired a striker. If he were to get off to a slow start, supporters may soon turn.
“At 6 foot 2, he is in a very similar mould to one of their current flops – do they really need another Benteke?”
Harry Sherlock
“Edouard is something of an unknown quantity. Yes, he’s been scoring goals in the SPL, but what does that really mean?
“Think of the players who have made the jump from Scotland to England: the likes of Steven Naismith and Nikica Jelavic haven’t quite cut the mustard in England. Naismith scored 20 goals in the Premier League, Jelavic hit 30 in 114 outings.
“Steven Fletcher, by comparison, scored 53 goals in 189 outings but one has to wonder which path Edouard is going to follow. It’d be a massive gamble for Palace to take, purely because it isn’t clear how those goals in Scotland will translate to England. Palace might be better off going for a proven option.”
Viji Jeevathayalan
“Make no mistake about it, Edouard would be an exciting coup for Crystal Palace. The Frenchman has comfortably stepped up following Moussa Dembele’s departure at Celtic, and has racked up an impressive 12 goals and 12 assists this season. Given the Scottish giants’ participation in European football, the 21-year-old has had the chance to play at the highest level, and that level of experience would be invaluable to an aspiring side like the Eagles.
In Celtic’s remarkable double over Lazio in the Europa League this year, Edouard notched an assist in both the home and away games. This is a man who rises to the occasion, scoring 34 goals in all competitions since the start of 2018/19, proving he is comfortably better than Benteke and Ayew. The duo have only scored a combined total of four goals in 23 games this term, with the latter scoring all four of those but only getting one in the Premier League last season.