CELTIC are aiming to recoup their initial £7.25million outlay on Luis Palma and Alexandro Bernabei as both players head for the Parkhead exit.
The Hoops splashed £3.5milliion on the winger to sign him on a five-year contract from Greek outfit Greek Aris Thessaloniki last summer.
And ex-boss Ange Postecoglou was persuaded to spend £3.75million on left-back Bernabei when he was recruited from the Argentinian top flight in July 2022 with the player agreeing a deal until June 2027.
Palma has apparently attracted interest from clubs in Germany and France, according to media reports in his homeland, while also being linked with a return to Greece with Olympiakos monitoring his situation.
SMILES BETTER…Luis Palma congratulates Anthony Ralston after the defender’s goal in the 4-0 opening-day win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead in August.
The 24-year-old wide Bhoy scored 10 goals and contributed 10 assists in his debut campaign, but has been used sparingly by Brendan Rodgers this time around.
Palma came on as a late substitute for Daizen Maeda in the 3-0 win over St Mirren at the weekend, but has started only two games as he has come off the manager’s radar.
However, the flamboyant touchline performer is a member of Rodgers’ Champions League squad and with two outings in Europe’s elite competition due this month against Switzerland’s Young Boys in Glasgow and Aston Villa in the Midlands, the Hoops boss may not be in a rush to do an immediate deal.
The game against the English club is scheduled for Thursday January 29 and, with the window open until Monday February 3, there will still be time for a loan or permanent deal to be thrashed out.
The Hoops hierarchy, though, are not in the mood to allow the player to leave for anything less than was paid for him.
HEADING OUT…Alexandro Bernabei in action for SC Nacional.
It’s a similar situation with Bernabei whose loan contract at Brazilian side SC Nacional expired a fortnight ago.
The South American club have been in negotiations to make the switch permanent. They have baulked at a £4.2million asking price for the 24-year-old full-back who was a stand-out during his season-long stay at the Porto Allegre outfit and has even chipped in with three goals.
There is no future for Bernabei at the champions and another temporary switch or a ‘modified’ fee could be the answer.
But the Parkhead club would much prefer to get the money back they paid for him and bring an end to the saga.
