Maccabi Haifa midfielder Mohammad Abu Fani has revealed he was extremely disappointed that he didn’t secure a transfer away from the Israeli club in the summer.

Celtic, Eintracht Frankfurt, Antwerp and Standard Liege were all linked with the 24-year-old, and while the player says he did find it difficult to accept that the move had collapsed, he now feels things have worked out for the best:

“It wasn’t easy at all for me during the summer. I expected to go to a club in Europe and in the end, I didn’t make it and I stayed in Haifa. But that has been one of the best things that happened to me. I was in a kind of uncertainty because of the possible transfer and it affected me as a player. That episode closed at the same time as the transfer window.”

It is believed the Hoops’ attempts to sign Abu Fani ran into difficulty over the transfer fee. There were reports that suggested that the midfielder would be available for £800,000 but it is thought that Maccabi Haifa had slapped a much higher price tag on him.

Ange Postecoglou’s side eventually decided to switch targets, and they secured Rubin Kazan midfielder Oliver Abildgaard on loan just before the transfer window shut last month. The Danish international has made three appearances for the Scottish champions so far.