Celtic scouts were reportedly in the stands during Maccabi Haifa's Champions League rout of Olympiacos to make the final call on a bid for the Mohammad Abu Fani as a row erupted between the player and the club over their refusal to sell him to a "European club" before the qualifying double header.
The Scottish Premiership champions have watched the 24-year-old while on international duty with Israel during the recent Nations League fixtures and appear to have launched a fresh scouting mission on the dynamic midfielder as he featured in the second round qualifying second leg. It proved to be a comfortable night for the Israeli side after a 1-1 draw in the first leg as they demolished the Greek champions 4-0 with Abu Fani completing the rout with the fourth goal late in the game.
Sport 1 report that Parkhead scouts were sent to Greece to make their "final decision" over recommending the player to Ange Postecoglou and the Celtic powerbrokers. Haifa have left the door open for a potential summer exit, admitting they would accept a "suitable offer", but insisted on keeping the player at the club until after the Olympiacos double-header.
This stance has also reportedly sparked anger behind the scenes and some heated talks between Abu Fani and Haifa president Uzi Mor. The report from the Israeli outlet states that an offer was on the table from a European club, which was turned down due to the qualifiers.
However, Abu Fani did not start either game with Olympiacos. The midfielder reportedly "expressed his displeasure" to the club chief with Mor seemingly "disappointed with his conduct" before the game. Following the row, Abu Fani is expected to leave the club, with Celtic and unnamed clubs in Belgium linked with a bid in the coming days.
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