West Ham transfer target and prolific Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard could leave the Scottish club this summer for less than previously mooted, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire speaking in the Glasgow Times.
The Hammers were linked with the 23-year-old former PSG frontman in January, along with a host of major European clubs.
However, Maguire believes that elite clubs across the continent are going to struggle to both fund and justify a move for the Frenchman, saying:
Who is going to buy Edouard? Where realistically will his market value be? The market across the vast majority of Europe just isn’t going to be there.
French football will have no money this summer because their TV deal has disappeared. I don’t see a lot of money being spent in Spain or Italy.
Instead, Maguire stated that Bundesliga sides and ‘bottom half of the Premier League’ clubs are going to be the realistic candidates to sign Edouard.
Since arriving in Glasgow, the Frenchman – who has been described as ‘magnificent’ by his manager Neil Lennon – has racked up 80 goals in 157 appearances for the Hoops.
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This could be music to the ears to those in charge of transfers at the London Stadium.
It is widely expected that this season will be the striker’s last in Scotland as he approaches the final 12 months of his contract; and with Celtic having previously mooted a £30m asking price, financial circumstances could dictate a dramatic reduction from that figure.
Whilst mercifully the Hammers don’t come under the bottom-half Premier League bracket this term, the club would perhaps fit the bill in terms of spending .
Edouard’s scoring record has been scintillating north of the border and he has earned a shot at the Premier League. West Ham should be in the hunt.
