Celtic were first linked with a move for Vinicius Souza back in early June – just under 4 weeks ago in fact.
Fast forward the near month and we’re absolutely no closer to finding out whether he’ll be at Parkhead come the end of the transfer window or not.
Indeed, the Daily Mail stated back on June 9th that Celtic were after the player and had scheduled talks. It looked ideal on paper given we’re in desperate need for a holding midfielder to replace Nir Bitton.
However, since then we’ve heard story after story and report after report. One minute new clubs are entering the race for his signature, the next others are dropping out. One day he’s open to coming to Celtic, the next he has reservations about the move [Sky Sports].
It’s been a month of total confusion and all that’s really happened in that time is that more clubs have appeared to enter the picture for Souza. Whilst Celtic have been looking to get as much of their work done as early as possible, this is the one deal that’s threatening to drag on and on.
The latest on this is that Schalke and Real Betis have apparently joined the race for the Lommel midfielder [Scottish Daily Mail, print edition, 05/07, page 72]. To sum up, yet more fuel to the fire.
How long will Celtic wait for Vinicius Souza to make up his mind?
Realistically, Souza won’t be coming to Celtic Park. With options in Spain, Germany, and Holland to potentially take up, it’ll be difficult to tempt him with Scottish Premiership football on a weekly basis.
But at the same time, you have to wonder how long Celtic will actually allow the player to drag this out. Ange isn’t one to simply sit back and wait for his targets to take weeks and weeks before they make a decision. He’ll want an answer soon, and he certainly won’t be looking to convince anyone to join the club either. He’ll expect them to know just how big an honour it is to be wanted by this club.
Yet Souza is beginning to come across as the type of player who likes being courted. The kind of player who wants to be tempted. If he was keen to make a move to Parkhead, you have to imagine he would’ve done so by now.
The worry is that this drags on and on until the beginning of the campaign. Then all of a sudden not only will you have failed to sign him for the new season, but we’ll also have failed to solve a key position out too. Not ideal considering the Champions League begins in September.
It would hardly be any kind of surprise if we’re sitting here in 4 weeks’ time still wondering where Souza will end up. He doesn’t look any closer to making his decision and it’s starting to look like the big transfer saga of the summer.
Thankfully, we have a manager now who will know when to say enough’s enough. It’s just anyone’s guess as to when that will be.
In other news, The fantasy Celtic transfer story that can now be put to bed
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
