It is easy to forget that, not so long ago, those two warring centre-forwards on either side of the Old Firm divide – Odsonne Edoaurd at Celtic and Alfredo Morelos at Rangers – looked destined for a future at the very top of the game.
In the blue corner, Rangers’ firebrand Colombian. El Bufalo in a china shop, barging and bludgeoning his way through bruised and battered Premiership defenders.
In the green, the more silky, cerebral stylings of Odsonne Edouard.
At the time, with both players banging in the goals at a prolific rate in Glasgow, few would have imagined the predicaments Edouard and Alfredo Morelos would find themselves in at the start of 2025.
Morelos was released by Rangers around 18 months ago and could yet suffer the same fate by Santos, despite the former Ibrox hitman finding form again at Atletico Nacional.
And, talking of terminating deals, Leicester City reportedly want rid of former Celtic talisman Edoaurd after four goalless Premier League games for The Foxes.
Odsonne Edouard could play a role in Cyriel Dessers’ Rangers future
Not that Crystal Palace appear to have any use for him either.
The two-time Premiership Golden Boot winner has bombed down the pecking order at Selhurst Park; the languid style which captured Celtic hearts taken for lethargy in South London.
Give Me Sport believe that Edouard could be offered an escape route by Atlanta United; the ambitious, deep-pocketed Major League Soccer outfit scouring the full length and breadth of Britain for a star centre-forward.
Atlanta United have already made an £18 million bid for Emmanuel Latte Lath at Middlesbrough. It is no secret that the MLS side like Rangers number nine Cyriel Dessers, too.
Atlanta United tried and failed to sign Dessers in a £4.6 million deal over the summer. And, with the Nigeria international dropping to third-choice under Philippe Clement, Rangers may be a little more open to a sale this time around even if CEO Patrick Stewart has played down a potential Dessers exit.
So, while Odsonne Edoaurd spent much of his Celtic career being compared against Alfredo Morelos, there is a strange irony to the suggestion that Frenchman’s future may now be tied to the fate of a current Rangers striker.
Cyriel Dessers is a target for Serie A duo Empoli and Cagliari too, although the latter side can only afford to pursue loan deals.
St Etienne appear to want a younger option – Dessers turned 30 in December – while La Liga outfit Leganes have entered the picture after bringing an end to Sebastien Haller’s ill-fated spell in Spain.
Patrick Stewart would rather not sell any Rangers player in January
Rangers would likely need a replacement if Dessers does go, however. Perhaps that is the reason why chief executive Stewart would rather keep the squad together, in the knowledge that value can be hard to find in the winter window.
“We don’t want to sell Hamza [Igamane] in January,” Stewart said before widening the scope to every Gers player. “We want him to be here for the second part of the season, I’ll be very clear on that.
“I think I would be told it was irresponsible if we sold a player. There’s always a balance, but January is not typically a window in which those sorts of transactions take place.
“We’re always, as a board, going to be looking at the long-term and striking a balance in the long-term. That’s our duty, but Hamza’s only came into the team and started scoring, and we want him to be here for the second part of the season, as I’m sure all the supporters do as well.”
