Celtic’s long-running interest in Farès Ghedjemis has taken another twist after Rangers also saw an approach knocked back by Frosinone.
The 23-year-old winger was on Celtic’s radar in January, but Frosinone were determined to keep hold of one of their key players as they pushed for promotion to Serie A.
Ghedjemis finished the campaign with 15 goals and three assists as Frosinone secured their return to Italy’s top flight by finishing second in Serie B. His value has only risen since.
Martin O’Neill recently stated that Celtic held a “very, very strong interest” in Ghedjemis.
According to Sky Sports, Rangers have tested the waters, only to see their offer turned down. Frosinone are said to be reluctant to sell unless they receive a bid in the region of €15 million to €20 million, around £13 million to £17 million.
That valuation changes the conversation.
A deal at the lower end of that scale would comfortably surpass Celtic’s current transfer record. Kasper Hogh only recently became the club’s record signing after arriving in an £11 million deal, plus add-ons.
It leaves Celtic facing a straightforward decision. If Ghedjemis remains a priority target, they will need to return with a significantly improved offer. If not, attention will have to turn elsewhere quickly.
The timing is far from ideal.
The Champions League play-off squad deadline is now just two weeks away, and the need for another wide player has hardly diminished. Celtic have added in attack, but adding quality out wide remains one of the biggest outstanding pieces of business before the season gathers pace.
Martin O’Neill has already made it clear he wants further additions before the crucial tie against LASK Linz. Whether Ghedjemis is the player Celtic decide to push hardest for remains to be seen, but Frosinone have made their position crystal clear.
Rangers entering the race may have little impact on Celtic’s thinking, although reports suggest their rejected bid was around £2 million higher than Celtic’s previous offer. The real obstacle is not who else is interested, but the price Frosinone are demanding.
If Celtic believe Ghedjemis is the right fit, they now know exactly what it will take to bring him to Glasgow.
