Hapoel Be’er Sheva have made a loan-to-buy approach for Celtic’s Hatem Abd Elhamed. The Israeli side sold Elhamed to Celtic back in 2019 but the right-back has struggled to settle which has been exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Now, The Daily Record are reporting that Be’er Sheva, who Celtic beat in 2016 to qualify for the Champions League group stages, have made a bid to pay a loan fee for Elhamed until the end of the season where they would then buy him outright.
The right back reportedly wants to leave the club in order to be near his family, who have been living back in Israel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elhamed has played but he has looked as if he was struggling with something on his mind and now it appears clear that he is missing his wife and young son. The 29-year-old was signed for £1.6m and the club will want to recoup some of that fee.
Be’er Sheva boss Yossi Abukasis said he was keen to bring the versatile Israeli Internationalist back to the club that sold him eighteen months ago.
“Hatem is an excellent player that every team would want to sign. If we can bring him here to the club it will be a huge blessing for us.”
Celtic will need to look to the transfer market if they are to replace Elhamed. Frimpong would be the only first team option with Kris Ajer occasionally stepping across and playing at right back. Anthony Ralston remains at the club but appears to be well out of the first team picture.
Elhamed isn’t in the team for today’s game against Dundee United as he nears the Celtic Park exit to be closer to his young son and wife back in his native Israel.
