Urawa Red Diamonds have offered Giorgos Giakoumakis a double-your-money offer in a bid to win the growing race for the want-away Celtic striker. The big-spending J-League side are looking to see off competition from Germany, Russia and Italy to land the Greece star. They are prepared to pay a fee of around £4million.
Serie A side Sampdoria have entered the equation but that deal would be a loan with an option to buy if they were to remain in the top flight. However, Celtic want a permanent transfer and are looking to bring in another striker. South Korean World Cup star Cho Gue-sung is their No.1 target and the Hoops are pushing hard to sign from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Any fee from Giakoumakis is likely to be pushed that way.
Reports from down south claim Celtic face competition from Rangers although Record Sport understands while the Ibrox club are aware of the player and his quality, they have made no approach. German side Mainz have also made an offer for sung but reports in Korea say that it is £500,000 below Celtic’s offer. Ferencvaros and Galatasaray have been linked as well but have yet to make bids.
Urawa Red Diamonds chiefs are pushing to get a permanent deal done for the Giakoumakis and have pushed out the boat financially. The deal would see the 28-year-old more than double his current wages and that would be net rather than after tax.
Record Sport broke the story last month that contract extension talks had broken down with Giakoumakis and he was keen to move on. The Celtic striker moved from VVV Venlo in the summer of 2021 but despite scoring regularly has been unable to dislodge Kyogo Furuhashi as Ange Postecoglou’s main striker.
That and not being anywhere near Celtic’s top earners have left Giakoumakis keen to move on in this window. , Celtic chiefs are waiting to see if English Premier League interest is firmed up before they make a decision on the future of Josip Juranovic.
Three EPL clubs have expressed an interest in the Celtic star in recent days and they are now waiting to see what develops.
The Croatian international, who was linked with Chelsea earlier in the window, has a number of European options with Espanyol and Monza both keen on loan deals with an option to buy.
There are also other options on the table for the 27-year-old. Juranovic is another who has seen contract talks stall and is likely to be sold on for the right money.
Celtic have already signed Alastair Johnston in this window and also have Tony Ralston as another right-back option.
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