McGowan reveals possible escape route for Abada
Three MLS clubs are reported to be interested in signing Liel Abada from Celtic.
The winger was left out of last week’s Scottish Cup win over St Mirren to clear his mind and won’t be involved in the squad for today’s match at home to Kilmarnock.
On media duties on Friday Brendan Rodgers spoke openly about the unique situation that has evolved around the winger and suggested that a move could be a solution.
Abada signed a new long term contract at the start of this season but with each match that he misses it becomes harder to see how his situation could be resolved.
Presenting a solution, Stephen McGowan of the Daily Mail reports:
UNSETTLED Celtic winger Liel Abada is a transfer target for three clubs in America’s MLS after Brendan Rodgers admitted he may have played his last game for the Parkhead side.
Absent from last weekend’s Scottish Cup win over St Mirren because he was not in the right frame of mind to play, the 22-year-old will also miss today’s home league clash with Kilmarnock for the same reason.
Rodgers conceded yesterday that the Israeli international could now leave Glasgow. Placed under sustained pressure from his homeland over the pro-Palestinian stance of sections of the Celtic support, Abada was a loan target for clubs in England, Germany and France in the January window. While a move to a European team is no longer an option, MLS clubs can request the international transfer certificate of players under contract in another country until April 23.
Celtic have yet to receive any offers, but Mail Sport understands that a trio of unnamed US outfits are interested in handing him a permanent exit from the Scottish champions.
It is unclear whether Abada would be interested in a permanent move to the USA but a loan deal would seem like a convenient solution until the summer transfer window opens.
Celtic have signed a number of wingers but only Luis Palma has provided a similar return to Abada who scored 20 SPFL goals in his first two seasons in Scotland.