Celtic secure Edouard loan, but could it be permanent deal?

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 19: A general view of the stadium prior to kickoff during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Celtic FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Celtic Park on October 19, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 19: A general view of the stadium prior to kickoff during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Celtic FC and VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach at Celtic Park on October 19, 2016 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

One of the worst-kept secrets of the transfer window’s final few days was finally announced — Odsenne Edouard’s season-long loan was secured and announced by the club.

But, that wasn’t the only bit of news, as Edouard appears keen on a more permanent move to Glasgow should the loan go well.

Reports suggest that the hoops will have the option to buy the Frenchman at the end of the loan for a fee believed to be in the region of €10m.

The deal may not even be finalized yet however, that has not detered some hoops fans from getting incredibly excited about it.

While this is a very welcome move by the club to rectify our striker problem (the main problem being that we only have two), Some hoops fans have been left scratching their heads about why we have not yet signed another center back.

Weak defensively

We are currently in the position that we have to play a central midfielder out of position in Nir Bitton.

To be fair to Bitton, he hasn’t done much wrong since taking the step back into central defense, but the fact remains that he is not a defender. One only wonders how long we can keep playing him out of position before his defensive inexperience is exploited.

This problem seems inevitble with the Champions League group stages less than two weeks away.

Who’s going where?

Celtic have been rumoured to be courting potential new defensive recruits in the past few days after the deal for Rivaldo Coetzee broke down due to the player failing his medical.

Former hoops loanee Jason Denyar was one of the names mentioned although that was quickly mooted by the defender revealing that he has already agreed to join Turkey’s Galatasary on loan for the season.

Bristol City’s Aden Flint was another name thrown in the mix for a possible move up to Glasgow but the club have said there is no truth in that one.

Next: When will Erik Sviatchenko return from injury?

So with just hours remaining of the transfer window, will Celtic have one final roll of the dice and bring in a defender or will the hoops have to make do with what they have until Dedryck Boyata and Erik Sviatchenko return from injury?