JOTA, MOOY, WHO’S NEXT? ABADA?

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LIEL ABADA has emerged as a transfer target for Sporting Lisbon.

Celtic’s Israeli international winger, who cost £3.5million when he arrived from Maccabi Petah Tikvah in July 2021, is being eyed by the Portuguese giants, according to a report on Sky Sports.

Abada, 21, has been involved in transfer speculation since knocking back an enhanced contract extension from the champions on November 1 last year at the same time as Giorgos Giakoumakis who joined MLS outfit Atlanta United in February.

HAMPDEN HERO…Liel Abada celebrates scoring Celtic’s second goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final win over Inverness Caley Thistle last month.

Southampton showed an interest before they were relegated and Ajax have kept tabs on the 21-year-old goalscoring flanker. Back in April, CQN warned there would be an avalanche of speculation concerning the player throughout the summer.

Abada netted 28 goals in 101 appearances – including a double in the 4-0 derby romp in September last year – but was not an automatic first pick for Ange Postecoglou with most of his outings coming from the substitutes’ bench.

Abada, who is under contract until June 2026, brought down the curtain on the historic eighth treble-winning crusade last time out in spectacular style.

He came off the bench in the Scottish Cup Final against Inverness Caley Thistle to score the second goal and then set up the third and clinching strike for Filipe Jota.

CHEERS AND CHEERIO…Liel Abada and Filipe Jota hold the newly-won Scottish Cup – just a month before the Portuguese ace’s £25million departure from Celtic.

During the season as speculation heightened about the player’s future, he said: “I am really happy at Celtic. Everyone looks after me and tries to help me get better.

“My relationships with the players and staff is very good. So, I am really happy here. There is no rush. I have time.”

Brendan Rodgers has seen Australia World Cup midfielder Aaron Mooy announce his retirement and Jota agree a three-year deal in a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-ittihad over the past five days.

Now the returning gaffer could be bracing himself for Abada to join the star trek through the Parkhead exit.

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