Celtic Close In On Haissem Hassan as Rangers Face Driouech Setback
Celtic and Rangers are hunting wide players from opposite ends of Europe, but their fortunes could hardly feel more different.
At Parkhead, Celtic are edging towards the finish line. In Eindhoven and Frosinone, Rangers keep finding the door slammed shut.
Rangers’ Driouech Bid Rebuffed as New Suitors Emerge
Rangers went back to PSV Eindhoven with an improved £6m offer for Couhaib Driouech. PSV said no.
The rejection has blown the race wide open. Burnley and Celta Vigo have now stepped in, with talks described as being at an early stage. The player, 24, suddenly has options across three leagues, and that changes the tone of every conversation.
Rangers were first to push hard, but the landscape has shifted. Driouech is understood to hold a slight preference for Celta Vigo after the Spanish club entered the chase. La Liga, a coastal city, a different rhythm of football – it carries its own pull.
PSV can afford to be stubborn. With multiple clubs circling, they have little reason to soften their stance on price. Rangers must decide whether to go again or walk away, knowing that any delay only strengthens Celta Vigo’s hand and gives Burnley more time to construct a Premier League pitch.
The pressure is now on Ibrox, not Eindhoven.
Monaco, Celtic and Rangers All Rebuffed in Ghedjemis Battle
On another flank of the market, Monaco have made Fares Ghedjemis their priority for the right wing. The 23-year-old Algeria international at Frosinone has become one of the most contested wide players of the window.
Monaco saw a bid of £6m plus £1.7m in bonuses knocked back. Frosinone also turned down £8.6m offers from both Celtic and Rangers.
Those numbers tell their own story. Three clubs, three serious proposals, one firm stance from Italy. Frosinone know exactly what they have and are in no rush to cash in cheaply.
For Monaco, the plan is clear: come back with an improved offer. For Celtic and Rangers, it is more complicated. Both have already pushed their bids to a level that reflects real intent. Going higher means committing a significant chunk of their summer budget to a single position and a single player.
Ghedjemis, for now, stays where he is. But this is the kind of standoff that rarely lasts all summer. Someone will blink.
Hassan Deal: Celtic Waiting on Green Light
While Rangers wrestle with resistance, Celtic are closing in on a winger of their own.
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 the subject of a £9m bid from the Scottish champions and awaiting the go-ahead to undergo a medical.
The outlines of the deal are already in place. Hassan is dealing with visa issues, but there is an agreement for him to join Celtic on a contract running until 2030. Real Oviedo are poised to bank £6m up front, with a further £1.3m due if Celtic reach the Champions League proper.
Those clauses underline Celtic’s ambitions. They are not just buying a winger; they are betting on recurring Champions League football and a player capable of living at that level.
Crucially, there is no hint of a fight from Spain. Real Oviedo head coach Julian Calero has made it clear they will not stand in Hassan’s way. When a manager speaks like that, a move usually follows.
Celtic look set to land their man. Rangers are still searching for theirs. With the window ticking down and rivals strengthening, how long can either Glasgow club afford to wait?
