Celtic Gain Advantage in Winger Battle Against Rangers
Rangers and Celtic are attacking the transfer market with the same ferocity they usually reserve for each other – but for now, it is the blue half of Glasgow feeling the resistance.
Rangers Knocked Back in Driouech Chase
PSV Eindhoven have rejected an improved £6m offer from Rangers for winger Couhaib Driouech, with the Dutch club holding firm as interest in the 24-year-old grows.
Rangers went back in with a better proposal after an initial approach, but PSV were unmoved. The rejection has opened the door to new suitors. Burnley and Celta Vigo have now entered the race, with talks described as being at an early stage.
The situation is already tilting away from Ibrox. Driouech is understood to hold a slight preference for Celta Vigo after the Spanish club joined the chase, giving him the lure of La Liga as an alternative to a move to Scotland or the English Championship.
Rangers remain in the conversation, but they are no longer alone at the table – and they are certainly no longer in control of it.
Monaco Push for Ghedjemis After Turning Away Celtic and Rangers
On the other flank of Europe’s winger market, Monaco are driving hard for Fares Ghedjemis.
The Ligue 1 club have made the 23-year-old Algeria international their top target for the right wing and are preparing an improved offer after seeing their first bid turned down. Their opening proposal – £6m plus £1.7m in bonuses – was rejected by Frosinone.
The Italian club have already shown they are in no rush to sell. They previously knocked back offers of £8.6m from both Celtic and Rangers, underlining just how highly they value Ghedjemis and how fierce the competition has become for his signature.
Celtic and Rangers have both tested Frosinone’s resolve and come up short. Now Monaco are ready to raise the stakes.
Celtic Move Into Pole Position for Hassan
While Rangers are hitting roadblocks, Celtic are edging closer to a significant attacking addition.
Haissem Hassan has been left out of Real Oviedo’s squad for their pre-season match against Le Havre, with the 24-year-old Egypt winger at the centre of a £9m bid from the Scottish champions and awaiting the green light to undergo a medical.
The deal is advanced. An agreement is in place for Hassan to join Celtic on a contract running until 2030, with Real Oviedo set to receive £6m up front and a further £1.3m if Celtic reach the Champions League proper.
For now, the move is being held up by visa issues, but the direction of travel is clear. Hassan has been removed from matchday plans, the fee is agreed, the contract is mapped out.
Real Oviedo head coach Julian Calero has already made the club’s stance plain: they will not stand in the way of Hassan’s move to Glasgow.
Celtic are closing in on their winger. Rangers are still searching for theirs. The season has not yet started, but the first contest of the campaign – the battle for wide men – is already drawing a sharp line between the two sides of Glasgow.
