Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has praised the progress of on-loan striker Odsonne Edouard, whilst categorically denying the Hoops can sign him for just £7m during the summer. The 20-year-old made a slow start to his proceedings after his season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain, but he has of late risen to the occasion.

Edouard changed the complexion of Celtic’s Scottish Cup game against Greenwich Morton, and he continued to score a sumptuous winner against Rangers in a 3-2 triumph in the Old Firm derby. As a result, there has been plenty of talk of Celtic securing a permanent deal with £7m quoted by various sources as the buy-on fee for the Frenchman.

Speaking to Herald Scotland, Rodgers denied that the Hoops could pursue the marksman for around £7m, but admitted that there is a clause which could trigger a permanent deal, he said: “Where have you got the figure from? No – it’s not that. I’m not telling you what it is, but it’s not that. I’ve said from day dot that I see the player every day and he’s one of the most gifted players I’ve worked with. Because his representatives aren’t running about throwing him to every club under the sun it doesn’t mean he’s not a top player. The clause is there and there’s been an agreement but we would need to trigger the fee.”

Celtic will return to league action following a two-week international break to face Ross County on March 31. The Hoops are already 10 points ahead of Rangers with a game in hand, and they are course to secure their seventh Scottish league title on the bounce. Meanwhile, they also have the Scottish Cup to play, and they are presently in the semi-finals where they take on cross-town rivals Rangers once more. Rodgers has admitted that the club have regressed from the previous campaign, but they could still be backed to achieve another domestic treble before the end of the season.