Report claims Celtic have set deadline for Souza to accept hoops deal

Celtic have reportedly set a deadline for Vinicius Souza to join the club from Lommel. 

The Brazilian midfielder seems to be the current signing priority but with the first pre-season match coming on Wednesday it seems that decision time is looming. 

Souza belongs to Belgian Second Division side Lommel but is in demand from clubs in Holland, Turkey, Germany and Spain. 

After impressing last season on loan at Mechelen it seems that Lommel are looking to test the midfielder at a higher level with Celtic able to offer the incentive of guaranteed Champions League football. 

Keith Jackson has a decent track record on Celtic related news, soon after a complimentary reference to former CEO Peter Lawwell, he explains to Daily Record readers: 

Talks have been ongoing with Souza’s representatives since the end of last season as Postecoglou homes in a physical enforcer to beef up his midfield options, but Souza’s agents have also been in discussions with a number of European outfits with Schalke, Fenerbahce and Real Betis all thought to be weighing up big money offers for their man. And with the clock already ticking down to the start of next season, Record Sport understands Celtic are now pressing hard for Souza to put his cards on the table once and for all. 

The report concludes with a Celtic insider saying: 

The two parties are still talking but there does come a point in time when Celtic need an answer and that moment is fast approaching. 

If Souza – or his agents – aren’t prepared to commit then the club will simply have to look elsewhere because it’s an area of the team that the manager wants to address as a matter of urgency. Souza absolutely fits the bill in terms of what’s required but he’s not the only option. 

In January Celtic were strongly linked with signing Riley McGree from American side Charlotte but within a week of Middlesbrough snapping up the midfielder Matt O’Riley was being paraded as a Celtic player. 

Celtic play Weiner Viktoria on Wednesday, Rapid Vienna on Saturday then Banik Ostrava next Wednesday.