Neil Lennon confirms Celtic have entered contract negotiations with Odsonne Edouard 

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has confirmed Odsonne Edouard is in talks to sign a new contract with the club.

The 22-year-old forward has two years remaining on his current deal but has attracted interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Leicester this season. 

Edouard scored 22 goals in 27 league matches as Celtic won the Scottish title for ninth year in succession.  

Neil Lennon has confirmed Odsonne Edouard has entered talks to sign a new Celtic contract

Now Lennon has moved to reassure fans that he can convince the Frenchman to stay at Celtic Park and make it 10 in a row. 

Lennon said: ‘Yes, there are ongoing discussions at the minute with his representatives.

‘Ultimately he’s a player we want around. He’s a fantastic player. He’s really blossomed over the last couple of seasons.

‘He had a magnificent season this year and we want to keep him. It’s as simple as that.

Lennon has ‘a fantastic relationship’ with Edouard who scored 22 league goals in 2019-20

‘We’re doing everything we can to keep him here for at least another season anyway.’

The France Under-21 international joined Celtic from Paris Saint-Germain in a £9million deal in July 2018 after spending a season on loan in Glasgow. 

Edouard scored 11 goals in 29 appearances during the loan spell and has netted 60 Celtic goals in total, and Lennon believes the close relationship he has built with the fans over three years could influence any decision to sign a new deal.

Lennon said: ‘I think he is happy here. He’s got a fantastic relationship with me and my backroom team and his team-mates.

Edouard’s goalscoring exploits have attracted interest from Manchester United and Arsenal

‘You can see how much the supporters appreciate him as well. I think that’s reciprocated.

‘He’s grown into a top-class striker. Of course there is going to be speculation around a player of that quality.

‘But we’re comfortable at the minute with the position we’re in with him. He seems pretty happy and we’re looking forward to seeing him back at training.

‘We’d love to discuss things with him and a few other players about what our plans are going forwards.’