Celtic are playing hardball with Atlanta United and their pitch for Giorgos Giakoumakis. The Major League Soccer side have tabled a bid for the Greek striker but it is a loan with an option to buy at the end of it.
The Hoops, however, want a straight transfer and guaranteed money before they will sanction a move to the States. Celtic already have a £4million bid on the table from Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds and would rather take that, as it stands. Giakoumakis’s preference is to move to Atlanta for family reasons and they have already bettered the impressive terms that are on offer in Japan.
Celtic have also stated that unless Atlanta come up with an acceptable guaranteed transfer fee then then the frontman won’t be heading across the Atlantic. The 28-year-old has also been informed that unless he accepts Urawa’s offer or another suitable bid comes in then Celtic are prepared to keep him as part of Ange Postecoglou’s squad and then reassess things come the summer.
Giakoumakis wants to leave Celtic after contract negotiations broke down and because he has fallen behind Kyogo Furahashi as Postecoglou’s main striker. It remains to be seen if agreement can be struck between Celtic and the Georgia-based side.
Atlanta - who have a partnership with Aberdeen - have already moved on designated player Josef Martinez to Inter Miami to free up the wage budget for Giakoumakis. The 28-year-old is now sweating to see if a deal can be done, although he can move after the British window closes because the American transfer market remains open.
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