If Giakoumakis Leaves Celtic For Denmark You Know It Was Not About His Contract.

The story today in the papers that Giorgios Giakoumakis might leave Celtic for a team in Denmark definitely came out of left-field.

I don’t know how the club in question could afford him, as we’ll want a sizeable transfer fee, but I do know this; if they can and we agree to sell him and he leaves the club it has nothing to do with contract talks.

There are reports that the big guy’s family has struggled to settle in Scotland.

That’s entirely possible and completely understandable. The player himself might like it here just fine, but if the family aren’t quite as keen then that will strain any situation.

Whatever is leading to these reports, I have never believed that this came down to some “verbal promise” which we’ve failed to honour in some way. There is clearly something more to this, and I could believe that his family hasn’t settled far more easily than I’m willing to accept some story with an obvious anti-Celtic slant to it.

If he goes to Denmark, it’s not for significantly more money or to play at a higher level.

That much will be obvious.

If he goes there it’s because he thinks – rightly or wrongly – that there’s something better there for himself and his loved ones, and you can’t fault the man for that or argue with it. He is entitled to do whatever he can for their happiness.

The important thing, from the point of view of the club, is that we maintain our strength and if reports linking us with the two Korean strikers are accurate then we’re setting out to do precisely that, and things will continue to develop for us as a squad.

Big Giakoumakis has given us good service, albeit in a short time.

If this is his last window at the club – and by the way, that’s still not for certain – the critical thing is that it doesn’t cost us.