Celtic must sell Odsonne Edouard before they can bring OH Leuven striker Thomas Henry to the Scottish Premiership, as reported by Het Nieuwsblad.
On Monday night, The Sun reported Ange Postecoglou’s side were “on the brink” of sealing a £7 million deal for the 6ft 4in centre-forward – a transfer that would make Henry the second most-expensive player in the club’s proud history.
According to sources in Belgium, however, things aren’t quite as “on the brink” as they seem.
It’s understood Celtic will be unable to secure Henry’s signature until they find someone willing to take France U21 international Edouard off their hands.
And that’s proving easier said than done.
Will Thomas Henry replace Odsonne Edouard at Celtic?
The likes of Leicester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa have moved on to alternative targets, while Brighton and Hove Albion – a team crying out for a lethal centre-forward – are reluctant to pay the £18 million Celtic want.
And who can blame them?
For all Edouard’s potential, the former Paris Saint-Germain youngster has looked a shadow of his former self in recent months. Furthermore, why pay £18 million now when the same player will be a free agent in 11 months’ time?
Celtic, then, have a decision to make.
Do they reduce Edouard’s price tag? Or risk missing out on the much-coveted Henry, a player who’s also on the radar of Venezia, Real Mallorca and Swansea City after scoring a career-best 21 goals for Leicester City’s Belgium-based sister club OH Leuven last season.
Interestingly, Henry appeared to bid an emotional farewell to Leuven supporters after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Charleroi.
But with Edouard still a Celtic player, don’t bet against Henry featuring in Leuven’s next home game, against Jupiler League rivals Eupen on 21 August.
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