Former Celtic star Mark Wilson has taken aim at Giorgos Giakoumakis and his agent for unsettling Ange Postecoglou's camp with a row over a salary increase.
It's reported that the Greek striker was promised a hike in wages if he reached certain performance levels at Celtic and he is reputedly not happy at what he is being offered feeling that he deserves more after a successful first season scoring 17 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions during the course of the season.
He has alternated with main striker Kyogo Furuhash this season, but Giakoumakis has still managed to find the net eight times in 21 games for Celtic. But it appears problems have arisen over a proposed boost to his contract.
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There also appears to be a similar issue with Josip Juranovic who has seemingly turned down a wage rise and the feeling is that Celtic will now maximise their profit on the Croatian, who is preparing for a World Cup last 16 clash against Daizen Maeda's Japan with Canadian defender Alistair Johnston lined up as a replacement.
Wilson reckons these issues are avoidable and could have a detrimental effect on Celtic who hold a nine-point lead over Rangers in the Premiership with the league restarting in two weeks' time.
He told Clyde 1's Superscoreboard: “He’s under contract until 2026. I wonder where a story like this comes from? An agent, obviously, and it’s very disappointing.
“I’m a bit divided on this. I get that players are maybe promised something to get them to a club and if they do well then then will be rewarded. That should be written into the contract and the terms should be stipulated within that.
“What I don’t think can happen is the player does well then says I want an improved contract. The club, in this instsance Celtic, put a package together, the player says I’m not having that I’m going to my agent to cause all sorts of panic here. It causes unrest in a camp that is sailing along very nicely.
“Giakoumakis is someone who splits the Celtic fans. He’s a real favourite of some who think he’s better than Kyogo.
“I would put the blame on this on the agent. If there are four years left on a contract I don’t think you can make a fuss and say ‘my player isn’t happy’."
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