BBC Sport pundit Pat Bonner has claimed that Everton had scouts in attendance of Celtic’s 3-1 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday and that Odsonne Edouard and Callum McGregor impressed them.
Edouard and McGregor are two of Hoops boss Neil Lennon’s most trusted players this season, with Edouard featuring 41 times across all competitions and McGregor called upon to play a role in 46 fixtures.
Both started Sunday’s Scottish Premiership meeting with Kilmarnock, which saw central midfielder McGregor captain the side and centre-forward Edouard record his 20th goal of the league season (25th overall).
Yet has Edouard gone more than two Premiership appearances without being involved in the scoring this term, having also provided ten assists, and Bonner is in no doubt that his exploits will be appealing to sides south of the border.
“People outside [the club] will be looking at them,” Bonner said while speaking on BBC Sportsound after the match. “Talking about Celtic now, which is always the case when you are in that position of strength.
“They will probably have to sell one or two [in the summer]. Edouard looks as if he could be one.
“I was talking to one of the scouts from Everton here today. He is obviously up here and he was talking so highly about McGregor and the likes of Edouard and those kind of players. And they are attracting the attention of the big clubs.”
Would you back a summer move for Edouard or McGregor?
Both
Edouard
McGregor
Neither
Leicester City have been linked with a £25million move for McGregor recently, with it thought Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to make a second attempt for the midfielder’s signature after seeing an approach turned down last August.
Rodgers was instrumental in helping McGregor take his game to a new level while the pair worked together at Parkhead, and is confident he can acquire the 26-year-old regardless of if James Maddison leaves the King Power Stadium amid interest from Manchester United.
If Ancelotti likewise has an interest in McGregor, the boss will be sure to have a fight on his hands to acquire the 19-cap Scotland international who has started all 28 of Celtic’s Premiership fixtures this term, in which he has been involved in 14 goals (seven scored, seven assisted).
McGregor is currently enjoying his best run amongst the scoring, with six of his assists and five of his goals coming over his last ten league outings.
Ancelotti may also have a fight on his hands from Leicester in any move for Edouard, with reports in January suggesting Rodgers is willing to pay £30m to sign the Paris Saint-Germain product in the summer.
Celtic informed Rodgers that they had no interest in selling their talisman last month as they bid to secure a ninth successive Premiership title, and will demand a club-record fee on the striker signed for £9m two-and-a-half-years ago.
In other Everton news, an 18-cap Toffees man is reportedly a summer transfer target for one of Europe’s elite clubs.