Giakoumakis faced with unexpected Celtic option

Giorgos Giakoumakis has been told that if he doesn’t accept an offer to join Urawa Red Diamonds his only alternative is to stay at Celtic.

An exit has been on the cards since the end of November when it emerged that talks had broken down over a new improved contract.

That has provided ample time for his agent to fish out genuine interest in his client but so far the only option agreed comes from the J-League.

Talk of interest from Atalanta United has turned out to be just that- talk. With just a couple of days left of January trading it seems like options are limited for the Greek international striker.

The Daily Record reports:

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 does have a Celtic deal that runs until May 2026 but it is clear that there has been issues between the player and the club despite his impressive scoring record.

This week Oh Hyeon-gyu joined Celtic on a five year contract with every indication that Postecoglou wants to push the Korean into challenging Kyogo Furuhashi as the first choice striker.