£3.5m ABADA ON THE BRINK

ISRAEL teen wing ace Liel Abada is on the verge of sealing a £3.5million switch to Celtic.

The Hoops are poised to clinch a four-year contract with the Maccabi Petah Tikva within 24 hours, as CQN reported yesterday.

Abada could be the first of THREE arrivals for the Parkhead outfit as Ange Postecoglou kick-starts his summer rebuild. Rennes right-back Brandon Soppy, valued at £4million, and Rubin Kazan’s Swedish centre-back Carl Starfelt, who will cost around £4.5million.

Tomorrow is the transfer deadline for the Champions League qualifiers with the team scheduled to kick off their bid against FC Midtjylland in the second round in Glasgow on Tuesday.

Abada, who has been watched by Belgian outfit Club Brugge and Greek aces Olympiakos among other teams, has made over 70 first team appearances for the Israeli side after his initial breakthrough and has already been called up for the full international side.

TARGET MAN…Celtic eyes are on £4million-rated Brandon Soppy.

Petah Tikva are willing to cash in on the 19-year-old flanker who scored 12 goals last season and boss Guy Luzon, speaking in the Daily Record, admitted: “Liel is one of the greatest young talents I have ever seen in my time in football.

“And I say that when I have seen a great many of players both across Europe and at home.

“He was put in my team on merit and I will tell you why – he is the best finisher in the Israeli league and by a wide margin.

“Every goal he scores for us should add another million on to his value. He’s developed brilliantly and has improved with every season.

“Liel is still young but he is very mature for his age. He’s an outstanding prospect who is certain to have a very good future in this game.”

Postecoglou will push ahead in his move for French defender Soppy, also 19, and is still in interested in centre-half Starfelt, but talks have hit snags over sell-on clauses.