Saturday 16 June 2018 17:42, UK
Celtic's club-record £9m signing of Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain is a gamble worth taking, according to former Hoops striker Andy Walker.
The 20-year-old spent last season on loan with Brendan Rodgers' side from PSG, scoring 11 goals in 29 appearances as the club secured a historic back-to-back domestic treble.
Edouard quickly became a fan favourite when he scored twice as Celtic in the 5-0 thrashing of Rangers on the day the Hoops secured their seventh successive Premiership title at Celtic Park.
Celtic complete Edouard signing
Speaking on Sky Sports' Transfer Talk podcast, Walker said: "Yeah, I think he is [worth the gamble] because he's 20 and when you look at the way he performed against Rangers, coming in from the cold, because Mousa Dembele was the top man. He had a terrific debut season for Celtic.
"In any big game it was always Dembele who played for Celtic, but when he was injured Edouard came in and played against Rangers, scored a couple of goals. I think it was his overall game in and outside the box. His link-up play, the way he worked and the sharpness that he had. There is a lot there for Brendan Rodgers to work with. That's why I think he is worth the gamble."
Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd, however, does not believe the youngster is a gamble for Celtic because he has already proven he is capable in Scotland's top flight.
Boyd added: "I think that it is not so much a gamble because he has already proven he can come here and do it. For that type of money you want to know what you are bringing in.
"We've seen players brought in to Scottish football for a lot of money before and they have struggled. Eduard's already proved he can deliver at that level."
There have been suggestions Edouard's arrival at Celtic could push Moussa Dembele closer to an exit amid reported interest from the Premier League.
Walker accepts Dembele will eventually be sold but believes his former side are no rush to cash in.
He continued: "I think he [Dembele] will go eventually but he'll only go when Celtic are happy to sell. If they get Edouard in then that makes it easier to cash in on someone like Dembele - who they brought in for £500,000 and they could get £15m for him.
"He's broken into the France national side and scores regularly for the U21s. They've also got Leigh Griffiths as well.
"It leaves Edouard as a guy who will play some of the games. If Celtic have a big European game or a game against Rangers they will turn to their top players. If you are spending around nine million on a striker he is your go-to guy, no question about that."
