Steven Gerrard has been gifted a huge boost in any hopes of retaining Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos, with the Daily Star reporting Newcastle United have identified Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard as their preferred attacking target.
The Toon have held a series of video meetings with head coach Steve Bruce aimed at witling down their shortlist whilst the Premier League season is postponed, and it is the Hoops hitman who emerged as their number one option.
Edouard has seen his market value skyrocket at Parkhead since the Hoops turned his initial loan move permanent for £9million, having scored 60 goals in 126 games, including 21 in 27 Premiership outings this term. Morelos, meanwhile, has 12 in 26 league outings in 2019/20.
Bruce is still keeping tabs on Morelos’ situation at Ibrox, but will likely only make a move for the seven-cap Colombian if his efforts to sign Edouard fall short, having decided his side desperately need a number nine who can score after £40m club-record signing Joelinton hit just one in 29 top-flight games.
Celtic will fight ‘tooth and nail’ to keep the Paris Saint-Germain product at Parkhead but may be powerless to prevent the 22-year-old leaving should an offer in excess of £30m head their way.
Gerrard will surely be hopeful that Newcastle are successful in their efforts to sign Edouard as it would remove one potentially interested party from the race to sign Morelos, who has been linked with a move to La Liga giants Atletico Madrid recently.
While Morelos has had his issues at Ibrox, most recently having to apologise for ‘letting down’ the club and their supporters by coming back late from compassionate leave, he remains a pivotal part of the Gers attack.
No player currently at Ibrox has scored more often than Morelos across all competitions with the 23-year-old firing home 29 in 46 appearances, including six in six Europa League Group Stage outings.
Jermain Defoe has scored marginally more in the Premiership with 13 to Morelos’ 12, but the former England international has not been available as much with a calf injury keeping him out for all bar 48 minutes since the turn of the year.
In an ideal world, surely Gerrard would prefer to have both on hand next season, and Newcastle beating interest from Everton and Olympique Lyonnais for Edouard’s signature would better place the Ibrox outfit in keeping hold of their controversial striker.