Stal Mielec Said Hamulic has turned down Scottish Premiership champions Celtic in favour of a near-£2 million move to Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
Following Toulouse’s thumping 5-0 win away from home at Auxerre on Wednesday night, Violets coach Philippe Montanier certainly sounded like a man ready to welcome his new number nine to French soil.
“We will be able to welcome (Hamulic) if he comes!” the former Nottingham Forest boss said with a knowing laugh (La Depeche). “As soon as there are players who come to strengthen the group, it is always good news.”
Toulouse had scored just 23 goals in 17 games prior to that midweek trip to the Stade de l’Abbe-Deschamps. And while Hamulic’s arrival does not mean Toulouse supporters can expect a few more five-goal drubbings before the season is out, the signing of the Dutch-born Bosnia international certainly feels like a coup given the extent of interest from a variety of clubs on all corners of the continent.
Said Hamulic turns down Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic for France move
Celtic, for instance, had identified Hamulic as a potential successor for contract rebel Giorgios Giakoumakis. Ange Postecoglou’s side are cruising at the top of the Premiership table. They also look destined to return to the Champions League group-stages in 2023.
Hamulic has turned down European football and almost guaranteed silverware in Glasgow, however, in favour of a Toulouse side sitting 12th in France’s top flight. The spring-heeled 22-year-old also rebuffed the advances of FC Twente, Royal Charleroi and Real Salt Lake. He should set Toulouse back a fee of around £2 million.
Hamulic, Polish publication Weszlo say, should seal his departure from Ekstraklasa outfit Stal Mielec before the week is over. Strong, speedy and a more well-rounded centre-forward than the prolific but somewhat one-dimensional Giakoumakis; Hamulic has nine goals and four assists this season.
But while one door closes, another opens. The transfer gods giveth, the transfer gods taketh away.
Hamulic is France-bound but that disappointment should be sated by the arrival of another exciting Far Eastern import; 2022 Korean League Golden Boot winner Cho Gue-Sung.
Celtic, the Scottish Sun say, are ‘confident’ of signing Cho after weeks of speculation. A £2.6 million bid is now on the table.
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