Leeds told to sign Edouard from Celtic as £20m-plus transfer plan revealed – Whelan | OneFootball

Noel Whelan has urged Leeds United to launch a raid for Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard this summer.

The former Leeds forward, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 23-year-old ticks all the boxes in Marcelo Bielsa’s hunt.

As revealed by Football Insider, Leeds are laying the groundwork to sign a new, young striker and have set aside £20-25million to seal a deal.

It understood the Whites are targeting forwards in the 18-23 bracket who are fast and can operate through the middle or out wide.

While Edouard is very much a centre-forward, he falls into both Leeds’ age and price bracket.

Football Insider revealed last month Edouard believes he could leave Celtic for between £8-10million as a result of his contract status.

The French under-21 international’s terms expire next summer and he has made it clear he wants a move ahead of next season.

Whelan suggested Leeds were right to be targeting a promising hitman as backup to Patrick Bamford and insisted Edouard was the answer.

“We’ve got to look long term here,” Whelan told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge.

“You want someone you can improve, can grow into the side, grow into the football club and be there for three to four seasons. There’s already a player out there – Edouard.

“I keep saying it, go get him. He’s at Celtic. He fits that mould, he’d be competition. There’s many, many clubs interested in him, why shouldn’t we be? You can get him at a really good price.

“We’ve got to start looking at other people. Can we take away the players that other teams are trying to get?

“Victor Orta’s not failed us yet. What we do need is that striker. That’s the right criteria that we need to bring into the football club.”

Edouard netted 22 times across all competitions for Celtic this season.

He has been prolific at under-21 level for France too, with 17 goals in 13 appearances.

In other news, Whelan has been left gutted over Joe Geldhardt news from Leeds United.