Celtic are in talks to extend the contract of Arsenal target Odsonne Edouard, their head coach Neil Lennon has confirmed.
Edouard is out of contract in 2022 and is among Arsenal's leading options should they need to enter the market this summer to replace either Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette.
Prior to the coronavirus-enforced ending of the Scottish Premiership Celtic had intended to hold out for a club record fee for Edouard, eclipsing the £25million Arsenal paid them for Kieran Tierney last summer. Inevitably that has now changed though equally so has the Gunners' ability to match the fee they paid for the left-back in August.
Arsenal are not alone in holding a strong interest in Edouard - Leicester and his former manager Brendan Rodgers are understood to be keen - and for all clubs their negotiating hand would not be improved if Edouard opted to commit to a new deal.
"There are discussions at the minute with his [Edouard's] representatives," said Lennon.
"Ultimately he's a player we want around. He's a fantastic player. He's really blossomed over the last couple of seasons.
"He had a magnificent season this year and we want to keep him. It's as simple as that. We're doing everything we can to keep him here for at least another season anyway.
"I think he is [happy]. I think he's got a fantastic relationship certainly with me and my backroom team and his team-mates.
"You can see how much the supporters appreciate him as well. I think that's reciprocated.
"He's grown into a top-class striker. Of course, there is going to be speculation around a player of that quality. But we're comfortable at the minute with the position we're in with him."
Edouard is not alone on Arsenal's shortlist for attacking reinforcements. Gent striker Jonathan David is also on the Gunners' wishlist but any move for either striker would be dependent both on Aubameyang and/or Lacazette as well as the financial return they would get for the striker.
The latter is a particular concern in the case of Aubameyang, who is entering the final year of his contract.
football.london reported earlier this week that many of the 30-year-old's suitors on the continent are considering waiting until 2021 in the hope of snaring the Arsenal captain on a free transfer.
