CELTIC are poised to rake in more than THREE times what they paid for Giorgos Giakoumakis when he makes his expected exit in this transfer window.
Ange Postecoglou rated the Greek striker at £2.5million when he signed him from Dutch minnows VVV-Venlo in August 2021.
And now cash-rich J-League outfit Urawa Red Diamonds are prepared to pay £8million for the powerhouse frontman who rejected the offer of an enhanced contract from the Hoops just before Christmas.
THE LAST HURRAH…Giorgos Giakoumakis celebrates his strike in the 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in October which could turn out to be his final goal for Celtic.
The Far East club, backed by Mitsubishi, are ready to meet the Hoops’ asking price with a substantial down-payment and the remainder made up in instalments throughout the second half of the season, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
Their new boss, Pole Maciej Skorza, is aware of the qualities of the former AEK Athens player who had a loan spell in Poland with Gornik Zabrze two years ago.
Giakoumakis, whose last goal for Celtic came in the 1-1 Champions League draw against Shakhtar Donetsk on October 25, is also interesting clubs from five other countries as the race for his signature hots up.
Serie A strugglers Sampdoria are monitoring the situation while teams in Germany, Russia, the US and the Middle East have also made their interest known.
The 28-year-old international attack-leader has claimed 25 goals in 56 appearances and is under contract until 2026.
Unless there is a dramatic u-turn in Giakoumakis’ thinking, he will be on his way before February kicks in.
