Reported Celtic target Georgios Giakoumakis wants €700k-per-year [£596k], according to Bild.
Celtic have reportedly been in discussions with the VVV-Venlo player, with manager Ange Postecoglou seemingly having already had a private chat with the Greece international [Daily Record].
Another club said to be interested in the player is Werder Bremen. Dutch outlet Voetbal Primeur believe they’ve already had an offer rejected for the striker’s services.
And Bild have also reported in recent days that Giakoumakis’ wage demands could be a problem for them. The German source says that Giakoumakis’ hopes of bagging just under £600k per year would be too much for the Bundesliga 2 side.
The wage demand equates to around £11.4k-per-week. A figure Celtic should have no problem paying a new signing under their current wage structure.
Giakoumakis has yet to make a firm decision on where his future lies.
Celtic could be able to fend off the interest in Giakoumakis
Celtic is a much more attractive option than Werder Bremen regardless. Given they play second division football in Germany and are struggling to get out the blocks, Parkhead would be a much more profitable destination for Giakoumakis.
His wage demands, however, could be the deciding factor here. Having been relegated, Bremen will undoubtedly have had to cut costs. Not being able to meet Giakoumakis’ financial hopes would be yet another blow for them.
Not so much for Celtic, who should easily be able to finance any deal for the VVV-Venlo man. And when you consider he finished as the Eredivisie’s top scorer last season, he would clearly be worth it.
It remains to be seen if any additional parties come to the table. In truth, that’s all the more reason for Celtic to move quickly to try and get this done.
We’ve already seen what lingering without progress can do to your transfer plans this summer. Just look at the Thomas Henry saga for example [Daily Record]. Hopefully, the same mistake isn’t made for Giakoumakis.
The player is affordable whilst his reported wage demands should prove no issue to the Hoops either. It’s time to press on with this one.
In other news, Polish Report: Celtic target Josip Juranovic flying to Glasgow on Friday
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