Report: Rubin Kazan and Bordeaux hover for Celtic man Edouard

By Euan Davidson

August 27, 2021

Rubin Kazan and Bordeaux are hovering for Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, according to Sky Sports.

The Russian Premier League side have launched a bid of £15.4m, the outlet reports. Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux are keen to match Kazan’s offer. Edouard’s deal runs out in 2022, meaning a potential £15m profit for a player who could leave for free.

However, the structuring of the deal may not be to Celtic’s interests. Sky Sports state that the Russian club want to pay £8.5m up front, with two instalments of around £3.4m to follow.

It’s unclear whether Bordeaux’s bid would follow the same methods. What is clear is that, despite a quietening of the speculation around him in recent weeks, Edouard is still attracting plenty of interest.

Rubin Kazan sit 4th in the Russian Premier League at the time of writing. The club didn’t make it to any of Europe’s three club competitions this season, and sold Celtic Carl Starfelt earlier in the summer.

Bordeaux, meanwhile, finished 12th in Ligue 1 last season [Sky Sports].

From one perspective, this could be great business. Edouard’s deal ends next summer, and getting any kind of value from an expiring contract would surely boost the coffers significantly, while funding the ongoing rebuild at Celtic.

Or, the best financial result for Celtic would probably be to keep him. The Bhoys’ top scorer last season, Edouard could contribute to a league-winning side. In that case, Celtic would qualify for the group stages of the Champions League automatically. That would mean a basic windfall of €15.6m [Associate Press].

However, if Edouard is determined to leave, even to a smaller club, that’s his decision to make.

Neither Rubin Kazan nor Bordeaux represent a step up for Celtic man Edouard

Call it famous last words if you will, but I’d be genuinely surprised if either move came off.

Edouard has Champions League aspirations. At the very least, staying at Celtic would provide Europa League football, something that Rubin Kazan nor Bordeaux could provide this season. Let alone next, looking at their league competition.

While he would undoubtedly be relied upon for his goals at either club, the same is true at Celtic. Over the balance of a season, players hit form at different times.

Kyogo Furuhashi might not always be our main striker up top, and there’s a nascent partnership between him and Edouard that could be fruitful.

So, this could well happen. But if you ask me, it’d be a surprising, lateral move for a talented forward who’s surely thinking bigger.

From Celtic’s point of view, though, it might be a no-brainer.

Read more: Celtic close to agreeing terms for striker