Celtic remain interested in signing Lommel SK midfielder Vinicius Souza this summer but other clubs are also keen on acquiring his signature.
The Lowdown: Souza linked with Celtic move
Hoops have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old in recent times, as Ange Postecoglou looks for midfield additions after the exits of Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton.
Souza has become a key man for Lommel, shining in a defensive midfield role and averaging both 3.7 tackles and 3.6 aerial duel wins per game in the Jupiler Pro League last season.
It appears as Celtic are still eyeing up a move but will now face some serious competition in the race for his signature.
The Latest: Interest still remains
Taking to Twitter, reliable journalist Anthony Joseph confirmed that the Hoops still want a loan deal but Turkish giants Fenerbahce are trying to hijack the transfer:
“UPDATE: Lommel SK have rejected a £4.3m bid from Fenerbahce for in-demand defensive midfielder Vinicius Souza. They’d prefer not to sell the Brazilian but value him at £8m. A host of clubs including Celtic, Ajax, PSV, Bologna and Club Brugge are still interested in a loan.”
This comes after a previous update from Joseph in which he revealed that Lommel’s owners, the City Group, would prefer the player join Ange at Celtic.
The Verdict: Could be a great signing
With Bitton moving on after a glorious spell at Parkhead, Souza could be the ideal man to come in and fill the void left by the combative star in defensive midfield.
Will Postecoglou sign a new deal?
Yes
No
The Brazilian could bring power and presence to Celtic’s first XI, and at 23, he would be considered a long-term acquisition with great potential and possible sell-on value too.
The Hoops will clearly have to work hard to get their man, however, and they must hope that the lure of Champions League football, and a strong chance of being a Scottish Premiership champion, are enough to turn his head.
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