Luis Palma’s future at Celtic appears to be edging closer to a permanent resolution after fresh claims emerged on Tuesday evening regarding a second offer from Lech Poznań.
Journalist De La Rocha reports that the Polish champions have now increased their bid for the Honduras international after Celtic rejected an opening proposal worth €1.5 million.
According to the update, Lech have returned with an improved offer of €2.3 million as they attempt to secure Palma on a permanent deal following his successful loan spell in Poland. Celtic have yet to officially respond.
The winger is currently spending the season on loan with Lech and has managed to rebuild momentum after falling out of the picture in Glasgow.
Palma has made 45 appearances for the Polish side this season, scoring ten goals and contributing nine assists across all competitions. Those numbers have clearly convinced Lech that they want to keep the player beyond the end of the campaign.
It’s a sharp turnaround after a difficult period at Celtic.
The winger arrived from Aris Thessaloniki with plenty of excitement surrounding him and initially showed flashes of quality. There were moments where he looked capable of becoming a key attacking outlet for Brendan Rodgers.
But consistency proved elusive.
As Celtic’s squad evolved and competition in the forward areas got busy, Palma gradually slipped down the pecking order. Injuries and inconsistent performances limited his impact and eventually opened the door for a temporary move away.
That decision now looks to have benefited both the player and Lech Poznań.
The financial aspect of the negotiations could still prove decisive. The report notes that Palma’s buy option stands at €4 million, a figure Lech currently cannot reach. Their latest €2.3 million offer is viewed as an attempt to bridge the gap while testing Celtic’s willingness to compromise.
The hoops must now decide whether Palma still has a long-term future at Parkhead or whether cashing in this summer makes the most sense. Especially with a huge rebuild set to take place at Parkhead.
Given his form in Poland, there may yet be interest from elsewhere if Lech fail to strike an agreement. But the Polish side’s determination to return with a second bid suggests they are serious about getting a deal done.
For now, Celtic remain silent while negotiations continue behind the scenes.
Is this not a Jack Hendry situation?
Lech are negotiating the cheapest possible price ( which Mute Mike will probably snap their hand off for!) as they have a buyer in the wings who will pay them Celtics asking price. Handy Flip of a player and easy advantage of incompetent selling club!