Hatem Abd Elhamed’s agent has hit out at reports linking the Israeli right-back with a January departure to his native country. Dudu Dahan posted on Twitter yesterday that the defender’s preference was to remain at Celtic and regain his spot in the Celtic team.
Dahan labelled reports linking him away as ‘Fake News’ with Hapoel Be’er Sheva in a bid to reunited him with his wife and young son who he has been without due to COVID-19.
2 many #fakenews in the last weeks.
HATEM is Proud to be a @CelticFC guy and he will do everything to get his place in the team ✅ pic.twitter.com/inkoSYYzIo— Dudu Dahan (@dududahan555) December 31, 2020
Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph reiterated the comments of Elhamed’s agent by saying that the 29-year-old wanted to weigh up his options in January but would prefer to remain at the club.
A number of clubs in Israel are interested in signing Celtic defender Hatem Abd Elhamed.
I’m told Elhamed will weigh up his options next month, but his preference is to stay at the club and fight for a place in the team. pic.twitter.com/1PUjtobGQL
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) December 31, 2020
However, Celtic should look to make sure that they have options in the January transfer market should Elhamed decide that he wants to move back to Israel. Equally, if Celtic can put together a deal to recoup some of the money paid to Be’er Sheva in the summer of 2019, the players preference may be irrelevant.
Jeremie Frimpong is Celtic’s only established right-back if Elhamed was to leave with Tony Ralston out of the first team picture. Kris Ajer has played at right-back a few times this season but Celtic would need to look to recruit another right back to plug the gap.
