Lommel SK midfielder Vinicius Souza will only be sold if a club meets his €9m (£7.76m) price tag, according to reports in the Turkish media.
Fenerbahce are believed to have joined Celtic in pursuing the Brazilian but both teams may find it difficult to match the player’s valuation.
While a few still believe that the Hoops can afford the player, due to Champions League prize money, many fans on Twitter think the deal to sign Souza may prove too costly:
If true then ditch him n move on.
— kev mackin (@kevinjmackin) June 13, 2022
We’ve got champions league money
— C (@Callama_) June 13, 2022
I can’t see this one happening for us.
— CheGuevara (@CheGuevaraTC) June 13, 2022
If there was ever a time to push on from a position of strength, it’s now.
— Fraser Campbell (@FraserGCU) June 13, 2022
Very unlikely for a fee under that, he’s showing similar potential to what Van Dijk was around the time we signed him
— Scotlands Champions 😉🍀 (@Danbo115) June 13, 2022
Walk away
— Grumpy (@grumpo5) June 13, 2022
That’s that finished then , unless we get him on loan
— Daz (@DarrylS68856384) June 13, 2022
Seems an excessive fee for Celtic.
Something a €2m loan fee and a €6m option is more what Celtic would be looking at.
— Mr. Totti 🇵🇸 (@MisterTotti) June 13, 2022
A lot will depend on whether Lommel are open to allowing Souza to move on loan for a second successive season. He performed well during his spell at KV Mechelen so they may not be looking to send him out on a temporary basis once again.
However, Lommel are part of the City Group, who Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has close connections with. The Australian could persuade them that Souza’s development would be best served by playing in Scotland next season.