Celtic face serious competition for Vinicius Souza with Voetbal International reporting that Eredivisie giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven are also keen on the £2 million midfielder.
While Celtic have already lost a defensive midfielder this summer – Nir Bitton leaving after nearly a decade in green-and-white Hoops – PSV are preparing to say goodbye to a rangy, tough-tackling number six of their own.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Leicester City and Newcastle; Those are just some of the clubs looking to lure Ibrahim Sangare away from the Phillips Stadion. PSV have plenty of practice when it comes to moving on from key players, however, with Eindhoven-based publication ED claiming that the pursuit of potential replacements is now underway.
And Vinicius Souza certainly ticks a lot of boxes.
He, like Sangare, is a real man mountain of a midfielder, as tall and as strong as an oak tree. He’s a terrific ball-winner too. In fact, nobody in the whole of Belgium’s top flight averaged as many succesful tackles per game (3.7) in 2021/22.
Will Celtic beat Ajax and PSV to Vinicius Souza?
“Vini is head and shoulders above the rest this season,” says KV Mechelen’s assistant coach Steven Defour. “He breaks up an incredible amount of attacks. In addition, many of our attacks start through him.”
Scottish Premiership champions Celtic have planned talks with Souza’s representatives (Daily Mail). Sealing a deal will be far from straightforward, however. In addition to PSV, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Ajax are also interested, even if Ange Postecoglou’s close ties with the City Football Club – who part-own Souza’s contract – should give Celtic a puncher’s chance.
Voetbal International believe that City would prefer to send Souza out on loan for 2022/23. Interestingly, Celtic have an excellent interest with the Premier League giants, having brought in the likes of Patrick Roberts, Jason Denayer and John Guidetti from the Etihad Stadium in recent years.
According to Het Nieuwsblad, the much-admired Souza could make a decision about his future before the week is out.
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