A fresh report from Italy has linked Celtic with a move for Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, although the price being quoted could prove the biggest obstacle to any deal.

Transfer journalist Nicolò Schira claims the Scottish champions are preparing to submit a new bid for the 22-year-old Lithuanian international. According to the report, Torino are looking for between €14 million and €15 million before they would agree to sell.

If accurate, it’s a valuation that immediately stands out.

Gineitis has enjoyed an impressive rise since breaking into Torino’s first team. Despite being just 22, he already has 76 Serie A appearances under his belt and has become a regular for Lithuania. Comfortable as either a central midfielder or in a more advanced attacking role, he is the sort of versatile profile Celtic have often looked to recruit.

The reported fee, however, is another matter.

Transfermarkt currently values the midfielder at around €6 million. While market valuations are only a guide, Torino’s reported asking price is more than double that figure. It’s difficult to imagine Celtic agreeing to that without considerable movement from the Italian club.

Celtic’s transfer business has hardly gathered the pace many supporters wanted. With Celtic’s Premiership season kicking off on Monday, only Camilo Duran and Kasper Høgh have arrived despite widespread belief that many more additions are needed before the window closes.

Whether the club would be willing to commit a fee in the region of €15 million for one player, while there are still multiple areas of the squad to strengthen, is a fair question.

There is, though, another factor that could influence Celtic’s spending power before the transfer window closes.

Arne Engels Celtic Future

Arne Engels continues to attract interest, with West Ham expected to return after seeing an opening offer dismissed. The Hoops remain in a strong negotiating position and, should the Belgian leave for the sort of fee the club are believed to be seeking, there would be scope to reinvest significantly in the squad.

Whether that extends to spending close to €15 million on one player remains open to debate.

It would comfortably rank as Celtic’s most expensive signing, particularly for a player who, despite his Serie A experience, is still developing and has yet to establish himself among Europe’s elite midfielders.

That said, transfer negotiations rarely begin at the figure where they eventually end.

If Schira’s information is correct and Celtic are indeed preparing another offer, it’s reasonable to assume they believe there is room for discussion. Torino may be setting out their ideal valuation rather than their minimum price, and that’s often where the real work begins.