Luis Palma has made it clear he would prefer his future to remain away from Celtic, admitting he hopes to stay in Poland beyond the end of the season.
The winger was sent out on loan last summer by Brendan Rodgers, joining Lech Poznań with an option to buy included in the deal. Since then, the Polish side have repeatedly indicated they would like to keep Palma long-term, but only if there is scope to renegotiate the agreed fee.
That figure is understood to be around £4 million, a sum that would comfortably smash Lech’s current transfer record and has been described internally as unrealistic under the present terms. As a result, discussions are expected to centre on whether a compromise can be reached in the summer.
Palma, who still has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract with Celtic, has now spoken openly about his desire to remain in Poland.
“I hope to stay at Lech for a long time,” Palma said, quoted by SunSport. “But it’s not just my decision. I’m doing my thing day by day and I’m very happy about it.
“All I can do is keep doing that, but not everything depends on me.
“I have been a substitute in recent matches and that’s the decision of the manager. But I always have the team’s best interests at heart.
“I am working hard to get my place back in the team. That’s football for you.”
Despite the recent lack of starts, Palma’s output has been solid. He has four goals and four assists in the league, alongside two goals and three assists in Europe, contributing regularly when called upon. Lech remain active in continental competition and face KuPS in the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa Conference League this week.
Palma does not appear to be part of future plans in Glasgow, but Lech’s financial reality complicates any straightforward exit. With the player openly expressing a desire to stay put, the pressure may now shift onto the clubs to find a middle ground that suits all sides.
Whether that leads to a permanent deal or another temporary solution remains to be seen, but Palma is clear that a return to Celtic Park this summer is not what he is hoping for.
