Leicester's move for Edouard collapses as Rodgers targets £30m alternative

Martin Macdonald

• 18 Jun 2021 10:14 BST

Odsonne Edouard will reportedly not be signing for Leicester City this summer after the Foxes and current club Celtic failed to come to an agreement on a fee.

The French striker has emerged as one of Celtic's key players over the past few seasons, scoring 63 goals in 87 starts in the Scottish Premiership for the Hoops.

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Like with every star player at Celtic Park in more recent times, however, his time at the club appears to be limited, with attracting glancing coming from the Premier League and across Europe.

Due to the presence of Edouard's former manager Brendan Rodgers at Leicester, a move to the Foxes has always seemed the most likely destination for the 23-year-old, even though Arsenal and Aston Villa have been credited with an interest also.

However, it seems as if the move is now off as Leicester are, according to the Daily Mail, unwilling to meet Celtic's £25 million asking price.

It is believed the Glasgow giants will only allow Edouard to leave if they receive a fee close to what Arsenal paid for Kieran Tierney, which remains the club's record sale.

Celtic are keen to receive as high a fee as possible for the centre-forward as former club Paris Saint-Germain are due 40% due to a clause inserted in the initial deal to take him to Celtic Park on a permanent basis.

Edouard is now open to other clubs, but perhaps crucially for Celtic, is also open to the idea of staying for another year before leaving as a free agent in the summer of 2022.

Leicester's alternative

Leicester have now turned their attentions to RB Salzburg striker Patson Daka, who has been attracting interest from around Europe too due to his performances in the Austrian Bundesliga.

After the sale of Erling Haaland to Borussia Dortmund Salzburg naturally lost a fantastic centre-forward, but Daka has flourished in the increased responsibility given to him.

In the past two seasons, he has scored a fantastic 61 goals and recorded 13 assists in 65 starts in all competitions.

Rodgers has previously stated the need that Leicester have to have more of a threat in the final third moving forward.

"We'll want to strengthen at the top end of the field," he said after the 2020/21 season ended.

"We need more of a goal threat, and we need to have a bit more physicality in the team.

"I want to bring in one or two players who have that winning feeling. Maybe players who have won something or have that feeling of competing at the top end with their respective teams.

"That's something that can help the team."

Even though Leicester have apparently opened negotiations for £30m Daka, they will face fierce competition for his signature from Liverpool, West Ham and Aston Villa.