---
title: "Celtic: Hoops set to miss out on Mohammad Abu Fani"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-mohammed-abu-fani-maccabi-haifa-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chloe Chadwick"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-08-25T16:42:19Z"
modified: "2022-08-25T16:42:19Z"
---

# Celtic: Hoops set to miss out on Mohammad Abu Fani

**[Celtic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/) are set to miss out on the signing of Maccabi Haifa’s Mohammad Abu Fani, according to reports.**

### The Lowdown: Hoops scout Abu Fani

The Hoops have been on the lookout for a [new midfielder](https://www.footballinsider247.com/new-midfielder-signing-to-take-celtic-to-the-next-level-amid-sky-reveal-pundit/) for the majority of the window to fill the void left by Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton, and the 24-year-old had previously been identified as a serious transfer target.

Reports even [claimed](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-scout-mohammad-abu-fani-27129917) that the [Scottish Premiership](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premiership-news/) side sent out scouts to watch the Israel international in action, but it sounds like any potential move to Glasgow is off after news of a swap deal has come to light.

### The Latest: Celtic to miss out on Abu Fani

Sport 5 (via [The Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/transfer-news-live-celtic-rangers-27798658?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar#entry581457)) state that Abu Fani now looks ‘set to join’ one of his country’s rivals in a ‘blockbuster’ exchange which would see two players moving in opposite directions.

The 5 foot 6 star is likely to be ‘on the way’ to Hapoel Beer-Sheva, who are ‘open to swapping’ Hatem Elhamed for the Bhoys target.

It’s confirmed again that Hoops had been ‘heavily linked’ with the wizard as Ange Postecoglou ‘searches for a midfield enforcer’, though they are now set to miss out.

### The Verdict: Blow for Celtic

Celtic failing to land Abu Fani is a setback, and it’s a real concern that the Australian boss still hasn’t been able to capture a new midfielder with just a week of the transfer window remaining.

The [14](https://www.transfermarkt.com/mohammed-abu-fani/nationalmannschaft/spieler/414243)-cap gem, [dubbed](https://twitter.com/sannyr1985/status/1479100754233151500?s=21&t=dHCZnw0y16zhQPiP6nT0HQ) ‘a thing of beauty’ by BBC journalist [Sanny Rudravajhala](https://twitter.com/SannyR1985), made [12](https://www.transfermarkt.com/mohammed-abu-fani/leistungsdaten/spieler/414243/plus/0?saison=2021) goal contributions in all competitions for Maccabi last season, showing how much of a creative impact he can have.

\[freshpress-poll id=”407387″\]

The Parkhead outfit have [signed](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/transfers/verein/371) Aaron Mooy but he doesn’t naturally play in a defensive position, so Celtic now need to re-enter the market and find a suitable Bitton replacement, perhaps the [recently linked](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-spl-jani-atanasov-transfer-news-updates/) Jani Atanasov.