Neil Lennon has painted a doomsday scenario of the circumstances that would see Odsonne Edouard depart the club.
While the Celtic boss claims that the club is in control reality suggests otherwise. It’s no secret that the striker will be closely watched by leading clubs but the same was true of Moussa Dembele and Kieran Tierney.
To a degree Celtic prepared for Dembele’s exit by bringing in Edouard but with a deal to Lyon completed late in the transfer window no replacement arrived. Brendan Rodgers had hoped to play both Frenchmen in the same forward line.
Last summer Tierney’s exit was well signed posted but it led to Callum McGregor playing at left-back in a fateful Champions League qualifier.
A left wing-back, Boli Bolingoli was recruited but it was only on deadline day that Greg Taylor came in from Kilmarnock.
Lennon understands the theory, over the last two summer windows the club has failed to deliver the end results with the Champions League replaced by the Europa League.
Speaking to the Daily Record the Celtic boss explained:
It’s as you were with Edouard’s deal. There has been no further movement one way or another on it but whether it’s Odsonne or any other player – like in previous years when we sold guys like Dembele and Tierney – we’ll be prepared for it.
There may be intense speculation around some of our players so we have to plan ahead. That’s what we do, it’s like a circular motion.
We have to keep the wheels moving and be prepared for any eventuality when the market opens. It’s going to be a long transfer window until October. There will be pros and cons. You just don’t know, a club could come in and show real interest in one of your players.
Then you have to play a waiting game to see if they’re going to bid or if it’s just unsettling for the player involved. I don’t know how it will pan out but we’ll have to adapt.
Edouard has two years left on his Celtic contract and has given no indication that he is looking to move on although that is likely to change as he gets towards the last 18 months of his contract.