By Frank McAvennie

27th Sep, 2023 | 12:00pm

Celtic have signed 'next Sead Haksabanovic' after what expert has spotted

New Celtic winger Luis Palma is an inadequate replacement for Sead Haksabanovic, let alone Jota.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie is worried Palma will struggle just as much as Haksabanovic did during his time at Parkhead.

Palma joined the Celts from Aris Saloniki earlier this summer and put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the Scottish champions.

The Honduras international has made two appearances since his arrival and started last week’s Champions League match against Feyenoord.

Haksabanovic left Glasgow to join Stoke City on loan for the 2023-24 campaign after struggling for minutes in a Celtic jersey.

The winger made 42 appearances for the Hoops after joining from Rubin Kazan last summer, netting five goals and offering up four assists.

Celtic also lost favoured winger Jota to Saudi Arabia this summer.

When asked if Palma could be the ideal replacement for the former Benfica star, McAvennie told Football Insider: “I do not think he has got the pace of Jota.

“At the moment I would say he is not much better than Haksabanovic.

“They are very similar kinds of players and I am thinking why would they get rid of one to bring in another if he is not better.

“When I came back to Scotland it took me a few weeks to get settled because the Scottish game is so much faster. You have got to be on your toes, you have got to be fitter and sharper so it still might take him a couple of weeks.

“It will be a shock to the system coming to Scotland because it is not as easy as what people think.“

In other news, Kieran Maguire shares verdict on Celtic fan anger after £70m reveal