Celtic and Rangers have spent large parts of this summer chasing the exact same man. For weeks the two Glasgow giants appeared locked in a familiar Old Firm transfer tussle over the same highly rated target. That pursuit, however, is now unravelling at speed. Fares Ghedjemis is slipping out of reach, and Rangers are already plotting a very different route designed to steal a march on their fiercest rivals.
What began as a straightforward race for a promising Algerian winger has transformed into something far more intriguing. With the price tag on Ghedjemis soaring beyond what either club is prepared to pay, attention has swung dramatically toward a different name. Claudio Braga, the Hearts sensation who lit up the Scottish Premiership last season, has suddenly become the new focal point of a high-stakes Glasgow battle that could reshape both squads.
Ghedjemis Battle Fading Fast as Price Tag Soars Beyond Reach
Both Celtic and Rangers had been tracking Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis for months. The Algeria international, who became the first player in his club’s history to feature at a World Cup, sat firmly on the radar at both Parkhead and Ibrox. Scouts from the two clubs had watched him repeatedly as Frosinone pushed for promotion and then established themselves in Serie A.
Ghedjemis’ stock has continued to rise throughout the summer. His performances, combined with that World Cup exposure, convinced Frosinone that they were sitting on a genuine asset. The Italian club’s valuation has now reportedly climbed as high as €20 million, roughly £17.3 million. That figure represents a significant jump from earlier estimates and places the player well beyond the comfort zone of either Glasgow side.
Monaco were the first major club to test the water properly. The Ligue 1 side tabled an offer worth €7 million plus add-ons, a proposal that looked reasonable on paper. Frosinone knocked it back without hesitation. The Serie A newcomers made it clear they had no intention of selling their star man on the cheap, sending a strong message to the rest of the market.
That rejection underlined just how determined Frosinone are to hold out for a premium fee. With the asking price now sitting comfortably above what Celtic or Rangers are believed willing to spend, interest from both clubs has cooled rapidly. Sources close to the situation indicate the Ghedjemis chase is effectively over. A transfer saga that once looked destined to become a straight Glasgow derby in the transfer market has simply run out of road.
For Celtic, the decision is largely financial. The club has other priorities and a clear wage structure. For Rangers, the same constraints apply, even if the desire to land a creative wide player remains strong. Both sets of supporters had grown excited by the possibility of landing an international talent with proven pedigree. That excitement is now being redirected elsewhere.
Attention Turns Sharply to Hearts Sensation Claudio Braga
With Ghedjemis becoming unaffordable, Celtic have already shifted their focus. Reports have linked them strongly with Claudio Braga, the Portuguese forward who took the Scottish Premiership by storm last season while playing for Hearts. Braga was voted PFA Scotland Player of the Year after an outstanding campaign in which he scored 14 times in 38 Premiership appearances and contributed across the entire front line.
The 26-year-old proved himself capable of operating as a central striker, a second forward, or out wide. His work rate, technical quality, and ability to produce decisive moments made him the standout performer in a Hearts side that pushed Celtic hard for the title. That level of consistency and versatility has not gone unnoticed in Glasgow.
Celtic have monitored Braga for some time. The timing now appears favourable. Hearts have already lost captain Lawrence Shankland and midfielder Cammy Devlin this summer. There is a growing sense at Tynecastle that further departures could follow if the right offer arrives. The club’s financial position and the need to reinvest mean they are open to business, provided the valuation is met.
This, however, is far from a straightforward fight for Celtic to win. Rangers boss Derek McInnes has a long-standing relationship with Braga that stretches back to his own time at Hearts. Sources close to the situation say the Ibrox club are ready to match any bid Celtic put forward for the 26-year-old. Rangers are positioning themselves for a genuine hijack of one of Scottish football’s most sought-after emerging talents.
McInnes was said to be keen on bringing Braga to Ibrox when he first replaced Danny Rohl in the Rangers dugout. That admiration has only grown. Hearts knocked back an offer in the region of £5 million for the forward back in January. They are now understood to want a fee closer to £8-10 million to sanction a sale this summer. That valuation has not put off either Glasgow club.
With McInnes willing to go toe-to-toe financially with Celtic and use his existing rapport with the player as leverage, sources suggest Rangers view this as a genuine opportunity. Landing Braga would deliver a marquee attacking addition while simultaneously dealing a psychological blow to their fiercest rivals. In the intense world of the Old Firm, those dual benefits carry significant weight.
How the Two Targets Compare
The contrast between the two players is stark. Ghedjemis is the younger, more expensive option with international experience and Serie A exposure. Braga is the proven Scottish Premiership performer who has already shown he can handle the physical and tactical demands of the league.
| Claudio Braga | Fares Ghedjemis | |
|---|---|---|
| Club | Hearts | Frosinone |
| Nationality | Portugal | Algeria |
| Age | 26 | 23 |
| Position | Versatile attacker | Winger |
| 2025/26 Impact | Talisman for title-chasing Hearts | Helped fire Frosinone to Serie A promotion |
| Recognition | PFA Scotland Player of the Year | Featured at World Cup |
| Valuation | £8-10m | £17.3m |
Braga’s lower valuation and proven domestic form make him a more realistic target for both clubs. Ghedjemis represented the higher-risk, higher-reward option that has simply priced itself out of the conversation.
Braga Opens Up on His Ambitions Amid Growing Transfer Talk
Claudio Braga himself has remained measured when discussing the growing speculation. Speaking recently, he insisted his sole focus remains the season ahead under new Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken rather than any interest from Glasgow.
“I feel like it’s something that as a professional you can’t be distracted with. I need to try my best to not hear worries around me and everything,” Braga said. “Everything else is in talks with my agents and everything. I don’t really want to be in that unless something is really on the table.”
He did, however, leave the door open to a future departure. “Of course, every player has ambitions and everything, but I have a contract with Heart of Midlothian and I would only go if it’s something good for me and for the club.”
Those comments were carefully worded. Braga is showing professionalism while making it clear he will not close his mind to the right opportunity. For Celtic and Rangers, that stance offers encouragement. Neither club wants to pursue a player who has already decided against a move.
Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has also addressed the situation. The Belgian has made clear he will not allow transfer speculation surrounding his best players to distract from the task of bouncing back after missing out on the title last season.
“I put my energy in the players who are here at the moment,” Vrancken said. “What’s coming or what’s going out, you’ll never know in a window. It’s also part of football so I don’t put my energy in this.”
That pragmatic approach is typical of a coach trying to maintain focus during a busy summer. Whether it will be enough to keep Braga at Tynecastle remains to be seen.
Rangers Also Chasing PSV Winger Couhaib Driouech
Braga is not the only attacking target on Rangers’ radar. As Derek McInnes looks to strengthen his options out wide, the Ibrox club have also been chasing PSV Eindhoven winger Couhaib Driouech. Rangers have already seen an offer worth around £6.4 million rejected by the Eredivisie side, though talks are continuing.
The Morocco-eligible 24-year-old produced an impressive return of seven goals and eight assists across the Eredivisie and Champions League last season. Those numbers attracted interest from several clubs across Europe, including Celta Vigo, who remain in the hunt.
Driouech offers a different profile to Braga. He is a more traditional wide player with pace and the ability to beat a full-back. Landing either player would represent a significant statement of intent from Rangers. Landing both would transform the attacking options available to McInnes.
For now, the Braga situation appears the more advanced and the more emotionally charged. The possibility of Rangers snatching a player Celtic have been linked with so heavily carries extra spice in the context of the Old Firm rivalry.
What This Means for the Rest of the Window
The collapse of the Ghedjemis chase has clarified the landscape. Both Celtic and Rangers still need creative attacking reinforcements. Braga sits at the top of that list for both clubs, and the next few weeks are likely to prove decisive.
Hearts hold a strong negotiating position. They can afford to wait for the right offer, and the presence of two interested parties from Glasgow only strengthens their hand. A fee in the £8-10 million range would represent excellent business for a player who arrived in Scotland with relatively little fanfare and has since established himself as one of the best performers in the country.
For Celtic, missing out on both Ghedjemis and Braga would leave a noticeable gap in their attacking options. For Rangers, securing Braga would provide McInnes with a proven Premiership performer who already understands the intensity of Scottish football and carries the added benefit of a pre-existing relationship with the manager.
The Old Firm transfer battles rarely lack drama. This one has already shifted once, from Ghedjemis to Braga. Whether it shifts again remains to be seen. What is clear is that the next chapter in this particular story is likely to be written at Tynecastle rather than in Italy.
Supporters of both clubs will be watching developments closely. In Glasgow, the battle for Claudio Braga has the potential to define the early part of the season before a ball has even been kicked.