LIEL ABADA’S contract situation will be reviewed by Brendan Rodgers before Celtic fly to Japan and South Korea for their pre-season warm-up outings.
The champions are scheduled to open the tour with a game against Ange Postecoglou’s former club Yokohama F Marinos on Wednesday July 17 with other matches due against Gamba Osaka and Wolves.
Rodgers will address the Abada state of affairs and the Irishman will also discuss the futures of a number of players before the squad heads off for the Far East.
CUP THAT CHEERS…Liel Abada whips in Celtic’s second goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden earlier this month.
The Israel international winger, who was signed for £3.5million from Maccabi Petah Tikva by Postecoglou in July 2021, was originally offered new terms by the Hoops hierarchy at the same time as Giorgos Giakoumakis back on November 1 last year, as CQN reported.
Both players rejected the extension and the Greek striker left the club for MLS outfit Atlanta United in February.
Abada, who is under contract until June 2026, insisted he was in no rush and brought down the curtain on the season in fine style by scoring the second goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final win over Inverness Caley Thistle while setting up the clincher for Filipe Jota in the fading moments.
The 21-year-old wide Bhoy has been involved in the usual transfer speculation – with Dutch giants Ajax, Crystal Palace and newly-demoted Southampton rating a mention – and Rodgers will look at his position in the forthcoming fortnight as he settles into the manager’s chair for his second stint in charge.
He will also look at the circumstances of players who have been out on loan last term such as Mikey Johnston, Liam Scales, Adam Montgomery and Ismaila Soro among others.
HAMPDEN HURRAHS…Liel Abada celebrates his Cup Final strike.
Emphasising he will have the final say on new signings, Rodgers, speaking to the Scottish Daily Mail, said: “You have knowledge of certain markets or knowledge that you might be able to get a player who has just become available.
“I know how I want the team to play. Celtic, as a club, it’s about offensive, aggressive, attacking football.
“What I am coming into is a team that’s playing that way. We’ll just look at adapting that and making changes.
“In terms of recruitment, I am the one who knows how I want the team to play and I have to be involved in those discussions.”
One player who already looks to be on his way is central defender Stephen Welsh who played only six first-team games in the previous campaign and is being eyed by Serie A duo Hellas Verona and Bologna.
