French interest in Samaras
The Greek internationalist is out of contract at the end of the season with talks about a new deal to stay on at Celtic stalling.
As each day goes by in the January transfer window it looks more and more likely that Samaras is about to end his six year stay in Glasgow.
With a fee of under £1m likely to secure his signature St Etienne have joined Atletico Madrid and a number of Premiership sides keen to sign the former Manchester City man.
St Etienne are sitting in fourth place in Ligue 1 and are keen to add an experienced attacking option to their side as they attempt to overhaul Lille for a Champions League slot.
A number of striking options have been looked at but with his profile high from last season’s Champions League campaign Samaras appears to tick all the boxes for coach Christophe Galtier.
Samaras hasn’t featured in Celtic’s last two matches and missed the trip to Turkey but no progress has been made towards extending his current deal.
With ten days left till the transfer window closes Celtic are anxious for a decision one way or the other as Neil Lennon plans ahead for next season’s Champions League qualifiers.
A January transfer is in the interests of both parties freeing up wages for Celtic as well as bringing in a transfer fee while the player gets a fresh start ahead of the World Cup Finals in Brazil.
If he remains at Celtic without signing a new deal Samaras is likely to find himself on the fringes of Lennon’s plans putting his place in the Greece side in doubt.
Lennon is keen to resolve the issue but after 20 days of the transfer window it seems that the club and player are no closer to agreeing terms leaving the door open for other clubs to provide the player with a fresh start and lucrative new contract.