Odsonne Edouard could be on his way out of Crystal Palace.placeholder image
Odsonne Edouard could be on his way out of Crystal Palace. | Getty Images
Oliver Glasner has made it clear that the 27-year-old is not part of his Crystal Palace plans.
Crystal Palace striker Odsonne Edouard is the subject of interest from the Saudi Pro League as he works on a move away from Selhurst Park this summer.
The 27-year-old is not set to be part of Oliver Glasner’s first team plans this season, especially with Jean-Philippe Mateta looking likely to stay at Selhurst Park. Edouard was an unused substitute in the FA Community Shield and against Chelsea on Sunday.
The striker, who joined Crystal Palace for £16 million in 2021, spent last season on loan at Leicester City but made just six Premier League appearances. The forward failed to score as he was afforded just 142 minutes while at the Foxes.
Crystal Palace star could snub interest for Saudi offer
Edouard previously spent four years at Celtic, winning four Scottish Premiership titles and bagging 87 goals for the Glasgow giants. Celtic had been linked with transfer interest in the striker this summer, as well as La Liga outfit Girona and Ligue 1 side OGC Nice.
However, CaughtOffside now claims that the player could make the move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Fayha considering a move for the bagsman. Those rumours come from journalist Ahmed Ragab.
Oliver Glasner was candid when speaking about Edouard last season and maintaining that he did not have a part to play under him at Crystal Palace. As Edouard struggled for minutes, the Eagles boss was asked about potentially recalling the player. He said: “We always follow our loan players. But, to be honest, especially this week with three games, it’s not my highest priority to think about Odsonne [Edouard].
“I don’t know about the contract details. From our side, it makes no sense to bring him back because if he’s not playing at Leicester, then why should he play for Crystal Palace?
“It was the same situation in the summer. Maybe he decided to get more minutes there. We explained the situation. The situation didn’t change at the end of the transfer window. It’s up to him and his agent.
“If he doesn’t get minutes at Leicester, then maybe he finds another loan. But it’s not the case of him coming back to play. It’s all about competition and performance. If you make a loan deal, it’s clear what every party wants.
“For Leicester, they want a good player to help them win games. For Odsonne, it’s about getting minutes to improve his performances and score goals. For us, it’s the same, so when he comes back, he’s in a better situation than when he left.”
Edouard hailed as ‘big star’ by Roy Hodgson
Edouard, who has scored 21 goals for Crystal Palace, was more popular under former manager Roy Hodgson. Speaking in September 2023, after the bagsman scored three goals in two games, Hodgson said: “He was very good today throughout. He came here from Celtic where he was so highly-regarded and scored I don’t know how many goals and was a big, big star.
“When we first came back to the club he had not established himself as much as he would have liked. He did get that position as a centre-forward when we came in and he has got better and better, knowing how we want to try and play.
“He hadn’t lost the technique, talent, the skill or the things that made him so big at Celtic. I spoke to Brendan Rodgers not so long ago and he was glowing in his praise about him.”
In other news, Eberechi Eze stirs Tottenham links with emotional Crystal Palace gesture at Chelsea - opinion.
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