---
title: "Celtic: Liel Abada won’t be ‘motivated’ to join Southampton"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liel-abada-southampton-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chloe Chadwick"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2023-02-09T19:40:54Z"
modified: "2023-02-09T19:40:54Z"
---

# Celtic: Liel Abada won’t be ‘motivated’ to join Southampton

**[Celtic](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/) forward Liel Abada will not be ‘motivated’ enough to join Southampton this summer, according to BBC pundit [Alan Hutton](https://icdb.tv/stats/3725/Alan-Hutton).**

### The Lowdown: Southampton interest

The Hoops winger first arrived in Glasgow back in [2021](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liel-abada/transfers/spieler/519514) and has since taken the [Scottish Premiership](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premiership-news/) by storm with the standard of his performances under Ange Postecoglou.

[The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4130667/2023/02/02/inside-southamptons-transfers-survival-first-approach-and-quenching-thirst-for-a-striker/) 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](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/liel-abada-addresses-celtic-contract-26102556) 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](https://www.footballinsider247.com/glasgow-pundit-verdict-on-liel-abada-quitting-celtic-amid-massive-claim/) 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.“

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### The Verdict: New contract deserved

Abada has been [dubbed](https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/sport/celtic-player-ratings-vs-aberdeen-25778069) a ‘threat’ in the final third by journalist [Alan Galindo](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/author/agalindo/), 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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liel-abada/leistungsdaten/spieler/519514) goal contributions in 25 league appearances so far this season with [two](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/412540/Show/Liel-Abada) 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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/berateruebersicht/verein/371), but it sounds like he would be more than happy to commit to his future at Parkhead.

\[freshpress-poll id=”424349″\]