Alex Jones 
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Freelance pundit and ex-Wales international John Hartson was scathing in his assessment of some potential Celtic transfer business as he took to Twitter to air his frustrations.
The reaction comes following transfer news that 23-year-old Celtic talisman Odsonne Edouard is closing in on a switch to Premier League side Leicester City for a reported fee of just an initial £15 million.
Entering the final 12 months of his contract, Celtic chiefs appear set to cash in on the marksman rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.
The French under-21 international has scored 16 goals in 26 Scottish Premiership appearances this season despite Celtic’s failure to win a tenth consecutive Premiership title.
Having scored 74 times in 139 appearances for Celtic, the youngster has been an ever-present offensive outlet for the Bhoys – though despite his contract situation, Hartson feels Celtic have let themselves down.
‘If Leicester get Edouard for the reported 18m.. they will be getting a damn good player’, declared Hartson on his official Twitter handle.
Hartson then claimed that a player of Edouard’s quality is worth ‘at least £30 million’ in the current market, lamenting that he ‘can’t help think Celtic being screwed over again’.
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Hartson certainly left little in the way of ambiguity over his views, though Edouard’s contract situation certainly plays a strong role in the reported valuation of a deal.
Valued at £13.5 million by Transfermarkt, the potential final fee is in no stark contrast to such a valuation.
As much as Celtic fans will be disappointed that their star striker is not attracting a higher fee, the alternative – a free transfer – would have a far more deleterious effect on the club’s ability to prepare for the player’s loss.
