By Sam Stone

2nd Nov, 2022 | 6:24pm

View: Smart move by Celtic to open contract talks with Liel Abada

Celtic are set to open contract negotiations with Liel Abada – and that is a really smart piece of business from the club with his stock only set to rise.

The 21-year-old has been in fine form in the early part of the 2022/23 season and has eight goals and four assists to his name already. This has led The Hoops to accelerate negotiations over a new deal.

Sky Sports reported (1 November) that Celtic are looking to offer the Israeli a new five-year deal to keep him at the club until the summer of 2027. Abada’s current deal runs until 2026, but there’s hope that offering him a new deal will deter clubs from making a move.

By getting the 21-year-old tied down to a more lucrative deal, it will also allow for Celtic to demand a higher transfer fee in the future should a bid come in for the attacker.

Abada has proven himself to be an all-round forward this season, with the Israeli a goal threat, whilst also being able to create opportunities for his teammates.

As per Wyscout, Abada ranks second in the Scottish Premiership when it comes to expected assists, whilst also managing to amass the third-highest number of shots per 90 minutes in the division.

With 70 per cent of shots on target, Abada is the most accurate striker of the ball in the league, and if he continues to perform at his current level, there will, without a doubt, be clubs eying a move.

Celtic fans will be eagerly awaiting for the 21-year-old to commit his future to the club and put to rest any doubts over his future.

In other Celtic news, the club will face a battle to keep hold of 17-year-old wonderkind Rocco Vata