There has been an interesting development around Celtic midfield target Gvidas Gineitis as the club weigh up their options in the middle of the park.

Celtic need central midfielders, and that need could become even more pressing before the transfer window closes.

The Hoops are braced for another West Ham United bid for Arne Engels, with the Belgian reportedly pushing for a move to East London.

Reo Hatate’s situation also needs to be resolved. The Japanese midfielder expressed his desire to leave two months ago, with interest reportedly coming from clubs in France and MLS.

The Hoops are already working on potential additions.

A fresh bid for Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur is understood to be readied after the German club rejected Celtic’s opening offer. Personal terms have never been an issue, with Baur pushing for the move.

Gineitis is another player firmly on the radar.

The 22-year-old Torino midfielder’s agent, Dmitry Vinokurov, confirmed directly to CeltsAreHere that Celtic had made contact over his client, although no formal offer had been submitted at that stage.

There has now been a development in Italy which will catch the eye.

Gineitis featured in three pre-season friendlies for Torino this summer, but he was absent altogether from their most recent squad.

Torino faced third-tier side Vado and came away with a victory, but Gineitis was not even named among the substitutes.

On its own, one omission from a pre-season squad does not tell the full story. Given the confirmed contact with the player’s representative and the obvious need for midfield reinforcements, though, his absence is worth noting.

The timing is particularly interesting.

Any serious movement for another central midfielder could be tied to what happens with Engels. If West Ham return with a bid that the Celts are prepared to accept, Martin O’Neill cannot afford to be left scrambling around for a replacement afterwards.

That applies even more with a crucial Champions League play-off against Austrian champions LASK approaching.

Celtic would, ideally, have their midfield business settled before then rather than losing a key player and trying to patch things together at the last minute.

Baur is clearly a live option, while Gineitis is another name Celtic have already done groundwork on.

His agent has confirmed the contact, and Celtic need midfielders. Now the Lithuanian has dropped out of Torino’s latest pre-season squad altogether.

Gineitis is one to watch closely as Celtic’s midfield business needs to be addressed soon.