How Leicester could lose Odsonne Edouard to EPL rivals

Leicester City’s ceaseless search for Jamie Vardy’s heir apparent has seen the big, the bad and the (so far) underwhelming. Rumours have reappeared linking Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard with a summer move to the midlands.

Permanently joining Celtic in Brendan Rodgers’ 2018/19 following a successful loan, Edouard provided 27 goals in 69 matches before the Northern Irishman took the helm at Leicester. At 6-foot-2 inches and with a strong footballing pedigree coming through Paris Saint-Germain’s academy ranks, the 23-year-old Frenchman is an exciting prospect.

Edouard’s link with Leicester has been one of the few consistencies in a bizarre year of football. However, there are some suggestions that a transfer battle could be on the cards. Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell suggested to Football Insider that Arsenal could “blow the Foxes out of the water” with a larger bid.

Campbell’s assertion seems baseless, with the logic behind the move being Arteta’s supposedly wanting to lower the average age of Arsenal’s strikers and having “a few quid” more than Leicester. Provided The Gunners’ historical French connection and Edouard’s success in Scotland, the article is as predictable as linking Leonardo DiCaprio with the latest supermodel. 

Recent Arsenal signings have been a contrast to the youth policy associated with Arsene Wenger’s reign.

The average age of the club’s signings in the last 12 months is 27, commonly regarded as the point players’ peak indicating a shift to purchases that should hit the ground running. Arsenal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s struggles this season have been well-documented – transfer links to strikers are to be expected.

Edouard would be more of a risk for a traditionally ‘Big Six’ club. While his goalscoring record in Scotland is impressive, the quality of opposition has to be accounted for. Gary Hooper’s 2013/14 switch to Norwich being a prime example of a goal-scoring machine turning inoperable in the Premier League. The increased media scrutiny and fan’s expectation for immediate results would magnify pressure during Edouard’s inevitable settling period.

Leicester City’s patience and loyalty with players such as Kelechi Iheanacho, Papy Mendy and Marc Albrighton have provided important results for The Foxes. Given the proper platform to develop, Edouard could find a more hospitable environment in the East Midlands. While Vardy may rediscover the extra yard of pace he has lost in recent months, the club’s analysts and backroom staff will be planning for the long-term future of Leicester’s forward-line.

Recent success, a newly-found reputation for developing players and the prospect of being the future ‘starman’ in a club battling for domestic and international honours could make the King Power the ideal home for Edouard.