Celtic star Giorgos Giakoumakis now ‘seems destined’ to complete a transfer to Urawa Red Diamonds. Even though the Greece international has struck an agreement with Sampdoria.
That is according to Calciomercato, which reports the Bhoys are holding ongoing talks with the J-League side. Urawa Red Diamonds are keen to get the striker in January and are now negotiating a fee with Celtic. Discussions have focused on a fee of £8m for the 28-year-old.
Sampdoria remain interested in a transfer for Giakoumakis of their own as the Blucerchiati bid to avoid relegation. The Stadio Luigi Ferraris natives sit 19th in Serie A after 17 matches having won just twice. They have also lost 12 times and scored just eight goals this season.
No Italian top-flight club has found the back of the net less regularly than Sampdoria so far this season. But the Blucerchiati seem set to miss out on Giakoumakis’ transfer from Celtic to Urawa Red Diamonds. The Red Devils are pushing for a deal ahead of their new season.
The 2023 J-League campaign starts in February and Urawa Red Diamonds are keen to now improve on last term’s ninth-place finish. Ricardo Rodriguez’s Saitama Stadium side ended the year 23 points from champions Yokohama F Marinos, Ange Postecoglou’s former club.
Sampdoria to miss out on Giakoumakis’ transfer from Celtic to Urawa Red Diamonds
Giakoumakis now ‘seems destined for the Far East’ as Celtic continue to negotiate the 11-cap forward’s transfer to Urawa Red Diamonds. Even though Gianluca Di Marzio reported the Greece star has reached an agreement with Sampdoria over a possible contract there.
Sampdoria have offered Celtic an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy Giakoumakis if they avoid relegation. The attacker has also given the Blucerchiati his go-ahead to a move to Italy in January. He appreciated their proposal as it offers the chance to stay in Europe.
Yet the upfront cash Urawa Red Diamonds are offering Celtic for Giakoumakis’ transfer has seemingly swung the tide away from Sampdoria. The Scottish Sun also recently noted that the Red Devils are ready to pay the Hoops’ £8m price tag on a striker they paid £2.5m for.
Beyond the profit on offer, Postecoglou is willing to let Giakoumakis leave Parkhead as the Hoops failed to agree on his new contract, per the Daily Record. The striker penned a five-year contract worth £12k-a-week upon his arrival at Celtic from VVV-Venlo in August 2021.
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