Celtic may struggle to retain Odsonne Edouard after his shameful early exit from the Champions League, according to Darren Bent.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider’s assistant editor, Russell Edge, the former England scorer warned that Scotland champions and their enthusiasts are the ones who care the most.
Neil Lennon’s were sent off from the Champions League after a 2–1 loss to Hungarian champion Ferencv-rosi TC last week.
Edouard, 22, told Celtic bosses in July that he was in a position to sign a new deal, as revealed through Football Insider.
He also revealed that the Hoops had set a value of 40 million pounds to French and had no plans to sell it this summer.
Bent told Football Insider: “You think of the players they can attract and I don’t know how many sensitive top players need to play in Scotland first, because it’s not the maximum competitive league.
“If there’s no charm for Champions League football either, I just can’t see them attracting the kind of players they want.
“With players like Edouard, you had to lean on the Champions League.If they’ve entered the Champions League organizational level, you can just tell them, ‘I know you have to leave and you have the ambition to need to play in the Premier League, but we’re in the Champions League, so it’s the season, play the Champions League and let’s see what happens from there.
“Now that it hasn’t happened, it’s going to be hard.”
The Hoops will now face Latvian club Riga or Tre Fiori de San Marino in the third qualifying stage of the Europa League, as they were unable to qualify for the Champions League organizing stages for the third consecutive season.
In other news, Football Insider may REVEAL that Celtic leaders are convinced that a first-team star is preparing for a high-priced outing on foreign recess.