Hatem Abd Elhamed looks set to leave Celtic this week as the homesick defender is nearing a half price return to Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Celtic have opted to take a £800k hit on the player as they look to reunite the Israeli international with his family.
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.
On today’s Open Goal, Si Ferry, Paul Slane and Kevin Kyle reacted to the news that the 29-year-old would be leaving the club.
Kevin Kyle: “He’s never really got going. He’s not really been in the team. He’s never been in the team consistently to have a look at him to see if he is the solution at right back.
“He clearly hasn’t settled in Scotland, that’s for a number of things and it is never easy moving away from family, especially during the COVID pandemic you don’t get to visit or see other people.”
Si Ferry: “Good player. Always thought he was quite soft. Too many niggles.”
Slaney: “Time to move on. You don’t want to be there, out you go. Homesick, I understand but you ain’t at tiddlywinks you are at the biggest club in the world.”
The news will leave just Jonjoe Kenny and Anthony Ralston as the club’s only options at right back with Jeremie Frimpong leaving for Bayer Leverkusen last month in a deal worth £11.5m. It makes Celtic’s signing policy even more baffling if the club knew that Elhamed was set to leave the club.