As things stand, it is not quite certain how much Celtic would have to pay in order to prise Levi Garcia away from AEK Athens.
But, needless to say, his price-tag will need to have dropped considerably from the summer of 2021 if the Scottish Premiership champions-in-waiting are to stand a chance. Watford reportedly made a £4 million bid for Garcia nearly two years ago. AEK, however, were reluctant to cash in on a forward they signed from Beitar Jerusalem for less than 15 million euros, according to SportDog.
Or £13.5 million, if you will.
Garcia, who represents the Trinidad and Tobago at international level, has taken his game to an all-new level since those Watford links. The Scottish Sun believe that Celtic sent scouts to watch Garcia in action as AEK Athens beat Greek giants Olympiakos 3-1 on Sunday.
Garcia scored a late penalty in that game before following it up with his 18th of the season during a 4-0 thrashing of PAOK.
AEK have only claimed Greek football’s biggest prize once since 1994. With Garcia in such form, however, a first Super League title in five years could be on it’s way to the OPAP Arena, AEK cutting Panathinaikos’ lead at the top of the table to two meagre points.
Could Celtic replace Liel Abada with AEK’s Levi Garcia?
A hard-running, skilful and ruthless attacker, Garcia does much of his best work when drifting in from the right-hand side. In that sense, Celtic’s interest may raise further doubts about the future of Liel Abada, the much-coveted Israel international who – according to his former president at Maccabi Petah Tikva – has his heart set on leaving Parkhead during the summer transfer window.
“Maybe we are talking £10 million for him?” former Celtic striker Kenny Miller tells Go Football Radio. “£8 million or £10million.
“He is really unfortunate that he has not had much game time behind Jota and (Daizen) Maeda. I think he has been brilliant when he has come on. He has got something different.
“Abada is direct and a real goal threat. We have seen in the big, big games against Rangers where he has popped up with a right few goals.”
“They have got so many threats Celtic,” Miller adds. “Maybe it is the time to move him on. To make the most of it so you don’t get into a Ryan Kent or an Alfredo Morelos situation; where you could be losing massive players for no money.
“And players you spent a good bit of money on as well.”
Garcia, at 25 and on the back of his most prolific season yet, would be a ready-made replacement. But only if AEK Athens are willing to accept a fraction of the £13.5 million fee they were demanding a couple of summers ago.
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