Celtic have warned top signing target Vinicius Souza they are not prepared to wait indefinitely for him to make up his mind over a move to Glasgow.
The 23-year-old Brazilian is currently training with parent club Manchester City as he ponders his next move following two years in Belgian football. The City Group own 60 per cent of the player and are keen to help facilitate a deal with Scotland’s champions because of their close connections with Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou and the club’s former chief executive Peter Lawwell.
And talks have been ongoing with Souza’s representatives since the end of last season as Postecoglou homes in a physical enforcer to beef up his midfield options, but Souza’s agents have also been in discussions with a number of European outfits with Schalke, Fenerbahce and Real Betis all thought to be weighing up big money offers for their man. And with the clock already ticking down to the start of next season, Record Sport understands Celtic are now pressing hard for Souza to put his cards on the table once and for all.
They believe the former Lommel and Mechelen man will add badly needed bite to an area of the team which struggled to cope with the aggression of Rangers’ midfield during the final two Old Firm derbies of the season. Postecoglou also believes Souza’s presence could make a key difference in next season’s Champions League campaign.
But Celtic had their fingers burned in 2019 when they thought they had tied up a similar deal to take Brazilian Douglas Luiz from the Etihad only for the player’s agents to take him to Aston Villa instead. And Parkhead bosses are determined not to be left in the lurch again this time around as Souza stalls on making a decision.
A source close to the negotiations confirmed last night: “The two parties are still talking but there does come a point in time when Celtic need an answer and that moment is fast approaching.
“If Souza - or his agents - aren’t prepared to commit then the club will simply have to look elsewhere because it’s an area of the team that the manager wants to address as a matter of urgency. Souza absolutely fits the bill in terms of what’s required but he’s not the only option.”
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