Fee named as Southampton reportedly ready to move for Celtic forward

The 21 year old Israel international has hit double-figure goals for a second consecutive season in the Scottish Premiership and is subsequently attracting interest.

Abada has scored 27 goals in 95 games for Celtic across all competitions following a move from Maccabi Petah Tikva in 2021.

The winger also netted his first for his country last summer, when Israel finished top of their Nations League Group B table and earned promotion to the top level of the competition.

The Daily Mail now report that Saints are ready to pounce after talks to keep Abada at Celtic Park for an extended period have broken down.

Saints are said to be long-term admirers of the promising youngster and look the most likely to make the first move at the end of the campaign.

A potential fee of £10million has been mooted as enough to tempt Celtic, whose manager – Ange Postecoglou – has already pledged to reinvest profit from player sales this summer.

The football director of Abada’s former club in Israel, Avi Luzon, has professed his opinion that Abada will be sold to a Premier League club this summer – after coming close last year.

Abada still has a contract until 2026 at Celtic, while Saints’ Premier League status is by no means a guarantee with the club two points adrift of safety with 10 league games to play.

Relegation to the Championship would likely greatly impact the targets Saints look to bring in, as well as the players of their own they can keep through the transfer window.