Real Oviedo sporting director David Fernandez has moved to clamp down on reports that Haissem Hassan is set to leave the club amid interest from Celtic. The Egypt World Cup star's release clause has dropped following Oviedo's relegation last season, with the forward now available for £10m – down from his previous £16m exit fee.
Celtic's Initial Bid and Oviedo's Stance
Reports in Spain suggest that the Scottish champions made an initial bid lower than the expected fee. Spanish outlet COPE reports that Oviedo will reject any offer below the £10m release clause as they aim to retain Hassan for their promotion push back to La Liga. An initial £3.4m offer was reportedly put on the table by Celtic for the wide man.
Speaking at his official unveiling as sporting director, Fernandez insisted that no exit would occur without his approval. He said: "One of the main reasons I came was to interact with the ownership. I've been involved in every decision that's been made. Haissem Hassan is owned by Oviedo. We will have a firm policy for bringing in players and managing departures."
Hassan's Performance and World Cup Impact
The former French youth international played 37 matches for Oviedo last season, managing only three assists. However, his World Cup exploits have propelled him to stardom, notably in Egypt's heartbreaking last-16 defeat to Argentina. Hassan led the counter-attack for Mostafa Zico's goal, which was controversially ruled out by VAR when the game was at 1-0. Egypt later made it 2-0, again aided by Hassan's brilliance, before the world champions staged a late fightback.
Hassan is also linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but Oviedo's firm stance suggests they are determined to keep him for their bid to return to the top flight.
