THE news that Giorgos Giakoumakis has knocked back a contract extension at Celtic has sparked a transfer stampede.
The Greek striker’s change of agent appears to indicate the 28-year-old international frontman wants a switch from the champions, as CQN reported a fortnight ago.
Giakoumakis penned a five-year deal when Ange Postecoglou signed him from Dutch minnows VVV-Venlo for £2.5million in August 2021.
After just one goal in the first half of the season, the powerhouse hitman underwent surgery on a knee problem and returned to claim 16 strikes while main man Kyogo Furuhashi was sidelined for three months with a hamstring injury.
WHAT A HIT…Giorgos Giakoumakis celebrates one of his 25 goals for Celtic.
WHAT A MISS…Giorgos Giakoumakis slumps to the turf after firing one wide against Motherwell.
Giakoumakis has collected eight goals this time around, but revelations about him wanting a fresh challenge have circulated from his homeland in recent days and it looks as though he could be on his way in next month’s transfer window.
Cash-rich clubs from Saudi Arabia are monitoring the player’s situation while teams across the border and Germany – including Werder Bremen who just missed out before his Parkhead move – are showing an interest, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
New adviser Blash Hosseini, who replaced long-term Ioannis Emmanouilidis, has apparently been charged with searching for a new club for his client.
If Giakoumakis does leave the champions, it will be on the club’s terms and that will be reflected on the fee which will show a massive profit on the original outlet.
Postecoglou is looking at all areas to strengthen his squad and towering South Korean World Cup attack-leader Cho Gue-sung is on his radar.
Giakoumakis came on as a late substitute for Kyogo in the weekend bounce game against French side Rennes in Portugal and will be in the matchday squad when the Hoops restart their bid for a second successive title against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday afternoon.
