Celtic look set to miss out on top target Vinicius Souza with the Brazilian midfielder reportedly on the verge of joining PSV Eindhoven.
Record Sport revealed this morning that Ange Postecoglou wasn’t willing to wait around after a lengthy pursuit of the 23-year-old and they now look set to be forced to look elsewhere for the physical midfielder the champions are looking for to bolster their engine room.
A report in the Scottish Express says Souza’s preference of a move to the Dutch Eredivisie will lead him to the Philips Stadium. Souza is 60 per cent owned by The City Group, who Celtic chiefs enjoy a close relationship with, but he is currently with Lommel and Genk and Club Brugge were keen to keep him in Belgium. Real Betis, Schalke, Fenerbahce and Ajax were all linked but it’s PSV who appear to have won the race to land the former Flamengo man.
It’s undoubtedly a blow for Postecoglou after Parkhead chiefs kicked off talks over a move for the former Flamengo man at the end of last season. Celtic have identified a midfield enforcer as a key position as they look to make an impact in the Champions League. But PSV Eindhoven are looking to join them in the group stage as they enter at the third qualifying round and boss and Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy wants Souza, who spent last season on loan a Mechelen, in his ranks for their bid to join Europe’s best.
Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton both departed the east end of Glasgow while Ismaila Soro doesn’t appear to have a future at Parkhead. And James McCarthy and Yosuke Ideguchi haven’t yet convinced after rarely featuring in Postecoglou’s debut season in the Celtic dug-out. That has left the Hoops boss looking to strengthen in that holding midfield role position and Souza was the man he wanted but the Australian is now likely to be forced to switch targets.
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