Confusion over Samaras move to Celtic but Maloney will stay at Villa

Agent Lee Anderson was involved in taking the 23-year-old to Parkhead in January and was quoted as saying that the Greek international was ‘very close’ to returning to Glasgow following a successful loan spell last season. 

Celtic's Georgios Samaras, pictured celebrating against Motherwell, is still unsure of where he will be playing next season

Still awaiting news of his fate from Manchester City, however, Samaras told Sportsmail from Greece last night: ‘I still don’t know what will happen. I’m just sitting here waiting to see.

‘I can only tell you what I have said lots of times, my first option is Celtic. I heard about some agent saying in a paper in Glasgow that we are very close to a deal but he is not the man who is dealing with my situation.

‘I really don’t know who he is. I have never heard of him. As far as I am concerned, what he is saying is not true.’ 

Greek-based agent Paul Koutsoliakos was also quoted yesterday saying that a deal is still being discussed.

He claimed: ‘I cannot say this with absolute certainty but I think the end result will be Samaras staying at Celtic. It seems that negotiations have already begun between Celtic and Manchester City for a permanent transfer or to at least extend the loan.’

One man who will not be rejoining Celtic this summer, however, is Shaun Maloney.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill has blocked his plans to return to Glasgow, telling Maloney he is going nowhere.

O’Neill also indicated that he has no intention of signing Lee Naylor after the left-back was linked with a swap-plus-cash deal for Maloney.

Celtic were said to be keen on bringing the Scotland star back to Glasgow but now look destined to be frustrated by their former manager.