Celtic target’s move collapses after £40m Premier League transfer falls apart

Celtic target Fares Ghedjemis is set to remain at Frosinone after a chaotic summer transfer window failed to produce a move away from the Italian club.

Martin O’Neill confirmed last month that the Hoops had a “very strong” interest in the 23-year-old, having also attempted to sign him during the January window.

Ghedjemis rejected Celtic at that stage and instead remained with Frosinone, helping them secure promotion to Serie A.

The winger was again attracting significant attention this summer, with Celtic joined by Monaco, Lazio and Rangers in tracking his situation.

However, despite appearing destined for a move, Ghedjemis is now expected to stay at Frosinone following a complicated sequence of events.

Algerian football journalist Dean Ammi has accused the Italian club of “effectively forcing [him] to stay at the club” and “holding out for £30 million.”

Monaco had emerged as the frontrunners for Ghedjemis, with the player understood to have set his sights on a move to the principality.

However, the Ligue 1 side needed to sell before strengthening their squad and had agreed a reported £40million deal to send Folarin Balogun to Everton.

That transfer dramatically collapsed after Balogun pulled out of the move, leaving Monaco unable to complete any signings during the final month of the window.

Ghedjemis, meanwhile, has yet to feature for Frosinone this season. Club director Renzo Castagnini previously claimed the winger had been left out because he was “distracted by the transfer market”.

With the window now closed, Ghedjemis faces the task of working his way back into the side as Frosinone look to build on an impressive 3-0 victory away to Fiorentina.

It leaves the 23-year-old in an awkward position, particularly after he appeared to say his farewells to members of the club’s staff earlier this summer.