Celtic have "given permission" for striker Giorgos Giakoumakis to agree personal terms with J1 League side Urawa Red Diamonds ahead of a proposed move.

This is according to a report by Scottish Sun which claims the Greece international is nearing a transfer to the Far East and is set to "finalise terms and undergo a medical in Amsterdam."

The 28-year-old has netted nine times for the Scottish champions so far this season.

He has been the subject of much transfer speculation since the January window opened and has not played for the Hoops since the 2-0 victory against Kilmarnock in the League Cup.

Speaking about the striker in his pre-match press conference ahead of the match against Dundee United, Parkhead boss Ange Postecoglou said: "It is not about being in the right frame of mind. I just said there was a lot going on in the background.

"You don't know how players will react to that. There is still a fair bit of speculation going round and until that goes away it is about me seeing how he is training.

"We'll assess him for the weekend."

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The Australian also opened up about why defender Mortiz Jenz was allowed to leave the club.

The German signed on loan with an option to by from Ligue 1 side FC Lorient in the summer.

However, he departed the Hoops after only six months in Glasgow and has joined Schalke in his homeland until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old played 19 times for the Scottish champions during the first half of the season, including in all six Champions League group stage fixtures.

And Postecoglou has explained the central defender's departure.

"With Moritz, it came from a discussion I had with the player. We brought him in because we needed cover in the centre-back area and that proved to be correct as both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt were out a different times.

"Having someone with his experience come in helped us. With someone on loan, it is all about asking whether they are going to play and whether we are going to sign them at the end of the season.

"I was keen to bring in Yuki Kobayashi and that came to fruition. Then it became a discussion about what was best for Moritz and we agreed it was best for him to see if there were any opportunities elsewhere."