Celtic transfer news; Fabrizio Romano says £3.5m deal now agreed

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic could be about to sell Giorgios Giakoumakis to Japanese outfit Urawa Red Diamonds with Fabrizio Romano reporting on his official Twitter page that the Hoops should earn around £3.5 million from the striker’s departure.

‘Enjoy every moment like it’s your last!’

The rather cryptic nature of Giakoumakis’ Instagram post following Saturday’s 2-0 Scottish League Cup semi-final victory over Kilmarnock certainly set tongues wagging and the rumour mill spinning. Scorer of a 95^th minute decider at Hampden Park; was this Giakoumakis’ last meaningful action in a Celtic jersey?

The answer to that question appears to be a resounding ‘yes’; Fabrizio Romano reporting that five-time J-League champions Urawa Red Diamonds have now reached an agreement with Celtic regarding the rangy Greek international. Urawa, Romano adds, are set to pay around £3.5 million.

Celtic, then, will earn a £1 million profit on a player who has averaged nearly a goal-every-other-game since joining from VVV Venlo in the summer of 2021, having lifted the Eredivisie Golden Boot during his final season in the Netherlands.

Celtic striker Giorgios Giakoumakis is an MLS and Serie A target but could go to Japan

Nothing is done and dusted just yet, however,. Atlanta United of the MLS will not accept defeat so readily. Gianluca di Marzio, meanwhile, believes that Serie A strugglers Sampdoria have an agreement on personal terms with the journeyman Giakoumakis too.

But Urawa Red Diamonds are in pole position; their foot slammed down onto the accelerator as the chequered flag looms into view.

And questions will soon turn to how Celtic plan to cope with Giakoumakis’ departure. He might not have been a regular in Ange Postecoglou’s starting XI. But, as he proved this weekend, he is an excellent source of goals off the bench, and a terrific option to have in your squad.

Said Hamulic has reportedly rejected Celtic in favour of French side Toulouse. Casper Tengstedt, meanwhile, has joined Benfica in a deal worth up to £10.5 million.

The Daily Record, meanwhile, say that a deal for South Korea international and K-League Golden Boot winner Cho Gue-Sung will have to wait until the summer.