Ghedjemis Chooses Celtic Over Rangers in Old Firm Transfer Battle
The first shots of this season’s Old Firm battle might not be traded on the pitch, but across a boardroom table in Italy.
Fares Ghedjemis, the winger coveted by both Celtic and Rangers, has now indicated where he wants his next step to be. And it’s bad news for the blue half of Glasgow.
According to Celts Are Here, the Algeria international is now open to joining Celtic and, crucially, would prefer a move to Parkhead over a switch to Rangers. In a window where both clubs are trying to reshape squads and reset narratives, that preference matters.
Celtic’s slow burn, Rangers’ early rush
Celtic have crept into this window. Kasper Høgh’s arrival from Bodo/Glimt, following Camilo Durán, has finally injected some life into a quiet summer of incomings, but the outgoings from Parkhead have been heavy. The squad still needs numbers, and it still needs quality.
Across the city, Rangers have gone the other way. Eight signings already under Derek McInnes signal urgency and intent. The new manager wants to stamp his authority quickly, yet the opening-day draw with Dundee United underlined the obvious: this many changes take time to blend.
It was hardly the start McInnes wanted. After seeing last season’s title snatched away by Celtic and Martin O’Neill on the final day, he walked into this campaign chasing revenge. Instead, he got two dropped points.
Celtic weren’t exactly sparkling either. A laboured 1-0 win over Dundee delivered the only currency that counts in August – three points – but offered few assurances. Both giants look like works in progress.
Which is why a player like Ghedjemis suddenly feels so important.
A deal that slipped away – and came back
Celtic have been here before.
In January, they had a €6m bid accepted by Frosinone for Ghedjemis. The deal was there to be done. The 23-year-old, though, made a different call. He stayed in Italy, chose the promotion fight, and helped drag Frosinone into Serie A. It paid off for the club and for the player.
Promotion has changed everything.
With top-flight football secured, Frosinone have raised his price. They believe the chance to test himself against Italy’s elite is a powerful reason for Ghedjemis to stay put, and they are acting like a club in no rush to cash in on one of their best assets.
Rangers, sensing an opening, have already pushed harder on the financial front. An £8m offer has gone in and been rejected, putting them ahead of Celtic in terms of sheer spending power. If Celtic want to revive the deal they thought they had lined up in January, they will need to move well beyond that original €6m agreement.
The winger’s stance, though, has tilted the field.
Preference vs price
This is where the tug-of-war becomes intriguing.
On one side, Celtic now hold the advantage of the player’s preference. On the other, Rangers have already shown they are prepared to go higher with the fee. Frosinone, for their part, are not behaving like a selling club. They are behaving like a newly promoted side desperate to stay in Serie A and unwilling to lose a key attacking weapon on the cheap.
The equation is simple, but the outcome is anything but.
Celtic can offer Ghedjemis the move he reportedly wants. Rangers can offer Frosinone the kind of money that starts to change minds. Somewhere between those positions lies the number that might unlock the deal.
Forty-eight hours that could set the tone
The next two days will be critical.
Fresh talks are planned within the next 48 hours, with Frosinone set to reassess Ghedjemis’ future as interest builds. The Old Firm pair are not alone. Clubs from France, Spain and Italy are also monitoring the 23-year-old, adding another layer of pressure and potential leverage for the Italians.
Celtic know they have an edge in the player’s mind. Rangers know they have already raised the financial bar. Frosinone know they hold the contract and the league status that every ambitious player craves.
Something has to give.
As both Glasgow clubs stumble through a slightly unconvincing start to the season, this chase for Ghedjemis is more than just another transfer story. It is a test of conviction, of strategy, and of who blinks first when a coveted talent picks his side.
If Celtic can turn the player’s preference into a deal, they land a winger who chose them twice. If Rangers can overpower that with a bid Frosinone cannot refuse, they send a very different message about where the real muscle lies in this title race.
The clock is ticking in Italy. How much is an early psychological blow in the Old Firm worth?
