Arsenal are in the race to sign Odsonne Edouard this summer, with the Celtic striker’s short contract making him available in a cut-price deal.

PERTH, SCOTLAND: Odsonne Edouard of Celtic celebrates with teammate Tomas Rogic after scoring their team's second goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between St. Johnstone and Celtic at McDiarmid Park on February 14, 2021. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
PERTH, SCOTLAND: Odsonne Edouard of Celtic celebrates with teammate Tomas Rogic after scoring their team’s second goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between St. Johnstone and Celtic at McDiarmid Park on February 14, 2021. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Leicester Mercury reports that Arsenal have joined Aston Villa, Leicester City, and AS Roma in the race for Odsonne Edouard. The Daily Record repeat the claims, citing a €25m (£21.6m) asking price given by the Transfer Window Podcast.

This is significantly less than the £40m or so Celtic reportedly wanted last summer. That’s because the player will enter the final year of his contract in the upcoming window, so it’s really now or never for the Scottish Premiership club to cash in.

Edouard is having another prolific season up front in Scotland. He’s scored 20 goals in all competitions with another four assists as well. He’s on a particularly strong run in 2021, scoring nine in 10 games.

The striker scored 28 goals in 2019/20, 22 goals in 2018/19, and 11 goals in 2017/18. The 23-year-old seems to be getting better with each passing season.

With Alexandre Lacazette seemingly on the move and growing uncertainty around Eddie Nketiah’s future as well, Arsenal are likely to make some sort of attempt to fill the gap behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of next season.