Celtic’s Summer Chase Of 23-Year-Old Hits A Familiar Roadblock: Are They Chasing A Moving Target? | OneFootball

Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reported that Fares Ghedjemis remains on Celtic‘s radar. The Hoops want him for the summer transfer window. However, the club could struggle to close the deal despite recent comments from his agent. O’Rourke explained the situation clearly on the Transfer Insider podcast. Celtic targeted the Algerian winger in January. Frosinone’s high price blocked the move, so Celtic signed Joel Mvuka instead. Frosinone demanded a huge fee in January, and that price sat well beyond Celtic’s limit. The Italian club will likely keep that same stance this summer.

Celtic’s Summer Chase Of Ghedjemis Hits A Familiar Road Block

Fabrizio Ferrari, the agent for Ghedjemis, recently hinted at a move. He noted the player wanted to finish the season during a promotion push. Frosinone might then look to sell him in the summer. However, O’Rourke noted a major catch to this news. If Frosinone win promotion to Serie A, the player may choose to stay. He would likely want to test himself in the Italian top flight. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Celtic remain stuck, and the 23-year-old turned them down in January. He chose to focus on Frosinone and the Serie B title race. He recently debuted for Algeria, too. Ghedjemis replaced Riyad Mahrez and scored a goal. This immediately raised his profile and his market price.

“(Ghedjemis) was a player that Celtic did look at in the January transfer window, but it wasn’t a deal they were able to get over the line.

“They were priced out of it by Frosinone, (who will) be looking for big money to sell him in the summer.

“They were looking for big money in January, which was out of Celtic’s price range, so again it is another difficult deal to do.

“If they are in Serie A, there might be the possibility that the player will want to stay and play in Italy’s top flight as well.”

Do Celtic Have a Realistic Chance, or Are They Chasing a Moving Target?

GENOA, ITALY – MARCH 27: Farès Ghedjemis of Algeria (center) celebrates with his teammates Adil Aouchiche and Adil Boulbina after scoring his team’s sixth goal during an international friendly match between Algeria and Guatemala at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on March 27, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Frosinone currently sit outside the automatic promotion spots on goal difference. They have only six games left. This single detail holds the key to Celtic’s summer plans. The transfer situation shifts completely depending on whether Frosinone go up. Right now, the outcome is uncertain.

Ghedjemis is a vital part of the Frosinone squad. The team are still fighting for promotion. This explains why the club refused to sell in January. However, Celtic fans face a tough reality. Reports suggest Celtic had a £6 million offer accepted in January. The deal still fell through. Other sources claim Frosinone wanted as much as £8.6 million. That gap shows how hard this summer deal will be to finish.

The player is a standout talent. The 23-year-old is a left-footed right winger, and loves to cut inside from the flank. He creates a constant threat with his dribbling and finishing. He beats defenders easily in one-on-one battles and also has a great eye for goal. Ghedjemis’ weaknesses are also clear. He lacks defensive awareness. His slim frame means he offers little in the air. He still needs to prove he can stay consistent at a higher level. Serie B is tough, but it differs from the pressure of Serie A or European nights in Glasgow.

Celtic still do not know who will manage the team next season. This makes every transfer decision even harder. Ghedjemis is drawing interest from German and Italian clubs. Celtic face stiff competition for his signature. A fair assessment is simple, and that is Celtic should keep watching him. However, they need a manager in place before spending big. Chasing a player who already said no is risky. His value keeps climbing, and the club lack clear leadership. Right now, this move does not look like smart business.