Celtic forward Liel Abada will not be ‘motivated’ enough to join Southampton this summer, according to BBC pundit Alan Hutton.

The Lowdown: Southampton interest

The Hoops winger first arrived in Glasgow back in 2021 and has since taken the Scottish Premiership by storm with the standard of his performances under Ange Postecoglou.

The Athletic report that the Israel international has been identified as a transfer target at the St. Mary’s Stadium, with scouts even having watched him in January with a view to approach him at the end of the season.

However, the 21-year-old’s representatives are claimed to have been in talks over penning improved terms to extend his stay north of the border, meaning that an exit at this stage looks unlikely.

The Latest: Hutton’s verdict

Asked by Football Insider whether he thought Abada could be tempted to leave Celtic for the south coast, Hutton said:

“If you look at Southampton and the situation they are in, there is a massive possibility of them being a Championship football club next year.

“Is that something you want to be a part of? I know they are probably building for the future but [with] everything that is going on with their manager at this moment in time, it is a little bit uncertain.

“Why would you leave somewhere that you are comfortable, happy, winning football matches, going for trophies to go to somewhere there is going to have to be a massive turnaround?

“Personally, it is not something that I would be motivated with so I am pretty sure he will probably be thinking along the same lines.“

The Verdict: New contract deserved

Abada has been dubbed a ‘threat’ in the final third by journalist Alan Galindo, and given the positive impact he makes, handing him a new deal would be nothing less than he deserves.

The Bhoys attacker has clocked up 12 goal contributions in 25 league appearances so far this season with two man of the match awards to his name, highlighting his importance in the side.

Celtic would be in a strong negotiating position considering Abada’s contract isn’t set to expire until 2026, but it sounds like he would be more than happy to commit to his future at Parkhead.