Celtic could be set for a big profit on £2.5 million striker Giorgios Giakoumakis with the Scottish Sun reporting that clubs in England, Germany and even Saudi Arabia are targeting the prolific centre-forward.
The 6ft 1ins Greece international may lack the speed of a Daizen Maeda or the technique of Kyogo Furuhashi, but what he lacks in finesse or athleticism, he more than makes up for in raw, unfiltered goalscoring.
Giakoumakis is something of an old-school, throwback of a number nine. A little one-dimensional perhaps. But, when it comes to sticking that round piece of leather into the old onion bag, there’s no one you’d rather see bearing down on goal.
In 50 games, Giakoumakis has 25 goals for Celtic. In fact, since the start of the 2020/21 season, a man who won the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot award with VVV Venlo has hit the target no fewer than 54 times.
Giorgos Giakoumakis could leave Celtic for a club in England, Germany or Saudi Arabia
Unsurprisingly then, Giakoumakis’ availability is not going unnoticed; clubs from Europe to Asia keeping tabs on the striker’s uncertain situation at Parkhead. According to the Daily Record, Giakoumakis is ‘poised’ to leave in the January transfer window.
Talks over a new contract have broken down, with Celtic failing to meet his demands. Giakoumakis has also hired a new agent, Blash Hosseini, in an attempt to find a new club. The late-blooming, well-travelled 28-year-old is particularly keen on a Premier League move.
The Sun, meanwhile, believe that Germany and Middle Eastern clubs are also keen. Saudi sides would probably be able to offer Giakoumakis a big pay rise, even if they could not match the sporting challenges on offer in England or the Bundesliga.
Celtic, meanwhile, could demand a fee in the region of £6 million, their stance strengthened by the fact that Giakoumakis still has four years left on his contract. A £6 million sale would see the Hoops more-than double their money just 18 months on from his arrival from Dutch football.
Celtic are also in the market for a replacement. South Korea’s World Cup targetman Cho Gue-Sung is one option. The Poland-based Said Hamulic and Slovakian giant Ladislav Almasi are also up for consideration.
‘An upgrade in the pipeline’
“This is not a time for my old club to get weaker,” Hoops legend Chris Sutton tells the Daily Record; concerned about the potential departures of Giakoumakis and Josip Juranovic.
“I’m fully aware of the chat from Postecoglou about the way he is going to evolve the squad. When he said at the club’s AGM that fans should not get too close to their heroes because regular movement in and out of the door would be a natural progression for them if they want to improve and get better in the Champions League, that was a signal to many, myself included, that individuals would be moving on in January and replaced.
“(Johnston) presumably opens an avenue for Josip Juranovic to go. Anthony Ralston’s excellent form would cover the departure of Juranovic. And give Johnston, much like Greg Taylor’s form did for Alexandro Bernabei, the chance to settle into the club. (Johnston will) not be rushed into the line-up immediately.
“With that in mind, Celtic fans have to believe that Postecoglou is well down the track with a striker. (They must believe he) has an upgrade in the pipeline if Giakoumakis is going to be exiting the club.”
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