Brendan Rodgers has admitted that Celtic have to prepare themselves in case they are unable to hold onto Moussa Dembele.
The Mail reports that Dembele rejected the chance to join Brighton and Hove Albion in January and still has a host of top Premier League sides chasing his signature after another impressive campaign at Parkhead.
And while Rodgers insisted that Plan A would be to keep the 21-year-old for another year, he hinted that it would be foolish to make any guarantees over his future, and admitted that his potential replacement may already be in the ranks in Odsonne Edouard.
“Moussa is a fantastic player and the reasons why he has come here have borne fruit,” he said, as reported by the Daily Mail. “We wouldn’t want to lose him, but you have to think he’s a big talent and something may happen in the summer.
“We try and have the next one lined up. Odsonne is a top talent. If you look at him, we brought him in for a reason. He has developed and grown over the season.”
The Mail reports that signing Edouard on a permanent basis will cost £8 million. And while that kind of fee could make a deal a gamble, the promise that he has shown this year suggests that it could be a risk worth taking.
The youngster has made a devastating impact at times, and ensured, whatever happens with his future, that he will have a place in Celtic folklore by scoring a stunning winner during the most recent Old Firm game at Ibrox this term.
So while losing Dembele could be a huge blow for the Hoops if he leaves in the summer, getting Edouard through the door may soften the blow if he continues to develop at his current rate, especially as the £8 million it will take to sign him will surely be a significantly lower fee than what they will expect to receive if Dembele leaves.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
