Haissem Hassan to Liverpool: Reds open talks as Celtic interested below €12m release clause
Haissem Hassan to Liverpool: The World Cup does funny things to transfer valuations. One minute, you are a winger on the books of a relegated Spanish club, and the next, you are the hot topic in the Anfield boardroom. According to a report by Spanish outlet El Gol Digital, Liverpool have entered formal discussions with Real Oviedo over the signing of 24-year-old wide man Haissem Hassan.
The Reds feel confident about wrapping this up for a fee below his €12 million release clause. Oviedo are down in the Segunda División after a miserable 2025/26 campaign, and that gives Liverpool all the leverage they need. Just days ago, Hassan turned in a staggering performance for Egypt against Argentina in the round-of-16. He absolutely terrorised the world champions, despite a 3-2 defeat. It was the sort of display that makes recruitment teams move fast. Under new head coach Andoni Iraola, Liverpool have done exactly that.
What the numbers actually tell us
Look at the raw statistics from his recent La Liga season, and you might blink twice. He made 37 appearances, clocked 1,942 minutes, and finished with zero goals and three assists. His average FotMob rating was a modest 6.55. On paper, it is a profile that barely warrants a second glance from a top Premier League side. Context alters the picture. Oviedo were a mess. They lacked any real attacking structure and used Hassan as an individual emergency button.
Data from Tactical Football Analysis shows he was actually one of the most effective dribblers in Spain. Sports Mole noted he finished eighth in the entire division for successful dribbles, sitting on a list alongside Lamine Yamal, Vinícius Júnior, and Kylian Mbappé. Wikipedia metrics put him in the top 7% of wingers in Europe for successful dribbles and the top 1% for progressive carries. He was doing this in a side that was anchoring the table.
Celtic are also in the hunt. The Scottish champions spotted his contractual situation before the World Cup kicked off, with his Oviedo deal running until June 2027. El Gol Digital suggests Celtic are readying a bid of around €7 million to €8 million, coming back with an improved offer after an initial €4 million approach was knocked back.
Scorzo’s opinion:
Money talks louder at Anfield. Celtic will struggle to go past €8 million, whereas Liverpool are likely to pitch their offer in the €9 million to €11 million bracket. Hassan wants the Premier League. Oviedo need cash now that La Liga TV money has vanished. His Transfermarkt value sits at a tiny €3.5 million, which explains why Celtic fancied their chances early on, but the landscape has changed.
Iraola wants verticality. He demands high pressing, quick transitions, and wingers who stretch the pitch. Hassan fits. He is a 173 cm left-footed inverted winger who plays on the right, preferring to cut inside rather than cross. With Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa on the possible transfer list, the squad needs bodies out wide.
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The final product is the massive worry. Zero goals in 37 matches is a terrible return. Three assists suggest his dazzling runs rarely end with a quality ball. Liverpool need output, not just highlight reels. At roughly €10 million, the risk is minimal. This is a gamble on raw potential and what he showed against Argentina. If Iraola wants a chaotic option off the bench to scare tired full-backs, the price is right. If anyone thinks he is a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah, they will be disappointed very quickly.
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