Celtic may already be looking at what comes next in midfield, with Torino’s Gvidas Gineitis now being linked with a move to Glasgow.
The name arrives at a time when Arne Engels’ future is again under the spotlight. Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Roma have all been credited with interest in the Belgian, and Celtic have already shown they will not be pushed into a cheap sale after knocking back a £25million bid from Forest in January.
If Engels does go this summer, Celtic will need a serious replacement. That is where Gineitis comes in.
SunSport journalist David Friel reports that Celtic have watched the 22-year-old in recent months after his performances for Torino in Serie A. Friel has a long history of breaking Celtic transfer stories, so this one carries more weight than the usual summer name being thrown around.
Gineitis is an interesting profile. He is 6ft 3in, already has 32 caps for Lithuania, and has been getting first-team football in Italy. That gives him a different look from some of the midfielders Celtic already have. He would bring height, strength and top-league experience into an area of the squad that could need rebuilt quickly if Engels moves on.
There is also interest from the Bundesliga, so Celtic would not be alone if they decided to take things further.
Torino are in a strong position. Gineitis signed a new deal last summer and still has three years left on his contract. That means any club looking at him would need to make a proper offer rather than hope for a cut-price deal.
His agent, Dmitry Vinokurov, has already spoken about the player’s situation and made it clear Torino rate him highly.
He said: “Torino holds Gvidas in high regard and believes in his future.
“The player has steadily improved within the club and is considered an important part of the project.
“At the same time, Gvidas is ambitious, as any player competing at this level should be.
“There have already been expressions of interest from other clubs, which is natural considering his age, performance, and potential.
“If an interesting offer were to arrive for both Torino and Gvidas, it would certainly be carefully evaluated.”
That is not a come-and-get-me message, but it does leave the door open. Torino value the player, while Gineitis appears ready to consider the right step if it suits him and the club.
Gineitis would not be a like-for-like copy of Engels, and that may be part of the appeal. Celtic have often lacked size and physical presence in midfield, especially in European games where they have been bullied too easily. A 6ft 3in midfielder with Serie A experience would change that balance.
There is no suggestion at this stage that Celtic have made a bid. This is one to watch rather than one close to being done.
But if Engels is sold, Celtic cannot afford to spend weeks reacting. They need targets ready, prices known and work already done. Gineitis looks like one of the players being monitored in case the summer takes that turn.
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