Luis Palma’s loan spell at Lech Poznań is going from strength to strength, but the Polish side face a major financial decision if they want to make his move from Celtic permanent.
The Honduran winger has been in fine form since joining the Ekstraklasa side in the summer, notching five goals and four assists already this season.
However, while the club have the option to buy as part of his loan deal, their director of communications and PR, Maciej Henszel, admits meeting Celtic’s asking price could be a serious stretch.
“We have a release clause. It doesn’t seem possible to lower it. I don’t think it’s negotiable…” Henszel told Polish media outlet Meczyki.pl.
The fee, believed to be well above Lech’s current transfer record, would require the club to double their highest-ever outlay, which currently stands at €2.3 million.
“It’s not an easy matter,” Henszel added. “To buy Palma, we have to break our transfer record by about two times.”
Lech Poznań had initially hoped to negotiate the price down, but Celtic have made it clear they will not budge on the clause. With Palma’s form making him one of the league’s standout performers, the Scottish champions now hold a strong position ahead of the summer.
Lech are enjoying the winger’s impact as they push for European football, but a decision on his future is expected to be made closer to the summer window.
If Palma maintains his current form, the Polish side could have a real dilemma on their hands. Break the bank to keep their star man or risk losing him back to Celtic.
