Celtic have been given a helping hand in their move for Hatem Abd Elhamed.
According to the Glasgow Evening Times, Israel boss Andreas Herzog has sent a letter to the SFA putting forward a case for Celtic target Hatem Abd Elhamed to earn a work permit.
Celtic have been pursuing defensive reinforcements, with Neil Lennon keen to add depth at right back and centre back – but one player appears to be coming in to solve both issues.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva defender Abd Elhamed is set for a £1.6million move to Parkhead, with a medical imminent, but there is still one problem to be solved.
Celtic are fighting to get Abd Elhamed a work permit, as the 28-year-old has remarkably earned just one cap for his country.
Celtic are sweating over the issue, but Israel boss Andreas Herzog has allegedly written to the SFA to promise them that he will be part of their plans moving forward, attempting to get him that work permit.
It’s noted that the defender was a in a car accident earlier in his career and would have earned enough caps to earn his work permit without that, meaning Celtic are hopeful his case will be accepted.
A work permit would be given to a talent that can improve the Scottish game, and by having Herzog confirm this plans to use him regularly for Israel, Celtic’s hopes should be boosted.
That’s essentially the final hurdle in their pursuit of Abd Elhamed, and what could have been a problematic situation for the Bhoys may have just been aided by his international boss.
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