Celtic are edging tantalisingly close to completing the second and third of our three Likely Lads predictions for the closing stages of this summer’s transfer window. We told you a few weeks back now that the three most likely incoming players would be Josip Juranovic, Georgios Giakoumakis and Liam Scales.
The right-back has already arrived from Legia Warsaw, while the other two remain tantalisingly close. Scales will play for Shamrock Rovers this evening in Dublin in their second leg on their Europa Conference League match against Flora Tallinn with the Irish side trailing by 4-2 from the first leg.
This is expected to be Scales’ last game before completing his £600,000 move to Celtic where he’ll be operating either as a left sided central defender, or as a left back. Perhaps it’s only an injury tonight that will derail this one so fingers crossed and the best of luck to Shamrock Rovers too!
The third of our Likely Lads is of course the Greece International striker Georgios Giakoumakis who we seem to be writing about every single day now. The latest update comes from our old friend Giannis Chorianopoulos, the Greek Sports journalist and Editor in Chief at Sportime newspaper and on Sportime.gr.
He reports this morning as follows: “Talks ongoing between Celtic and Giakoumakis. There is a gap of €150k per year between Greece international striker demands and Celtic ‘s offer. Agreement in principle with Venlo for almost €3m”
So the gap in effect is around £2,568.87 per week – using a leading currency convertor site on Google – between what the player and his advisors are reportedly asking for and what Celtic are apparently currently offering. It should be noted that the striker is sure to be on very low wages (for a footballer) at Dutch minnows VVV Venlo and as they were relegated last season they pretty much need to sell him for financial reasons. And Giakoumakis wouldn’t really want to hang around the Dutch second division so there’s a pressing need for both the selling club and the player here as well as at the Celtic end of things.
Surely this €150k per year gap can be bridged and we can get our second and third of the Likely Lads over the line and pictured in the Hoops over the next few days?
Talks ongoing between Celtic and Giakoumakis. There is a gap of €150k per year between Greece international striker demands and Celtic ‘s offer. Agreement in principle with Venlo for almost €3m. @CelticFC #CelticFC #Celtic #Giakoumakis
— Giannis Chorianopoulos (@choria80) August 26, 2021
You can't slaughter Giakoumakis for wanting the best deal possible.
He's not been blessed with incredible contracts & off the back of a successful season wants to get the best wage he can for him & his family.
Football is a short career, you never know what can happen.
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) August 26, 2021
We could have signed the man
But that’s another one gone west
Can’t believe we’re haggling over this. Unbelievable. Guy will be on a low wage just now . If we’re willing to pay the transfer we should be willing to pay the appropriate wage.Rediculous…….if it’s true.