Celtic transfer news: Club confident Giakoumakis will join on lucrative deal

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Urawa Red Diamonds are ‘confident’ of reaching an agreement with Celtic for the transfer of Giorgos Giakoumakis. The Greece star will also now sign a ‘highly lucrative contract’ to join.

That is according to The Scottish Sun, which reports the J-League outfit are hoping to seal the striker’s arrival in Japan in the coming days. The Red Devils are showing no reluctance to prise the 28-year-old away from Parkhead after they learned the Hoops’ £8m valuation.

Urawa Red Diamonds have rich resources to get Giakoumakis’ transfer as Mitsubishi backs the Saitama Stadium side. So, they are growing in confidence of edging the swarms of rival clubs chasing a deal. They will also give the 11-cap attacker a lavish salary to clinch a deal.

Giakoumakis earns £12k-a-week at Parkhead on the five-year deal he signed when joining Celtic from VVV-Venlo in August 2021. But the Daily Record reports the striker lowered his salary demands to secure the transfer on a promise that the Hoops would revisit his terms.

Now, he is unhappy in Glasgow as the Bhoys’ offer of a new contract fell significantly short of his expectations. So, boss Ange Postecoglou will not stand in Giakoumakis’ way and will let him leave if the striker wishes. Several clubs are also now exploring a potential transfer.

Urawa Red Diamonds set to win a busy race for Giakoumakis’ transfer from Celtic

Reports by Calciomercato have suggested Giakoumakis ‘seems destined’ to join Urawa Red Diamonds over interest from Sampdoria in his transfer from Celtic. Gianluca Di Marzio earlier claimed that the Hoops’ £2.5m arrival had agreed to a contract with the Blucerchiati.

Ligue 2 promotion-hopefuls Bordeaux have also made Celtic an offer for their forward, per L’Equipe. They rank second in the French second-tier and felt Giakoumakis could prove the difference this season. But Les Girondins only offered between €2.5m and €3m (£2-2.5m).

Danish Superligaen side FC Midtjylland have also held talks with Giakoumakis, according to BT. But the cash involved in Urawa Red Diamonds’ interest will likely see the J-League side win the race. So, Postecoglou might have to do without a striker with eight goals this term.