Celtic's transfer business is moving with considerable purpose this summer, and the latest name to occupy the thoughts of those at Parkhead is Torino's Lithuanian midfielder Gvidas Gineitis. The Scottish Premiership champions are set to intensify their pursuit of the 22-year-old once their Champions League play-off with LASK has been concluded, with the tie already looking a formality following a 3-0 first-leg advantage secured in Austria.
Gineitis has emerged as an intriguing target for a Celtic side that will want to enter European group-stage football with the depth required to sustain a challenge on multiple fronts. The midfielder caught the eye at the weekend when he set up Scotland forward Che Adams for an impressive consolation as Torino fell 2-1 to AC Milan on Sunday — a reminder, if one were needed, that Gineitis operates comfortably at a high level of football.
His Serie A experience, combined with his relative youth, would make him the sort of addition that Celtic have become adept at identifying: a player with continental pedigree but still room to develop, ideally suited to the demands of a club now accustomed to Champions League football. At 22, he represents both an investment in the present and a sensible eye on the future.
O'Neill Setting the Tone Off the Pitch
Manager Martin O'Neill has wasted little time in stamping his authority on the dressing room. Reports suggest he has instructed his squad to stay off social media — a directive that speaks to a manager who values focus and collective discipline in spades. Such instructions are rarely issued in isolation; they tend to form part of a broader attempt to shape a group's culture and sharpen its attention ahead of a demanding season.
O'Neill has also publicly backed right-back Colby Donovan to play a leading role at the club, a show of confidence in a player who will be hoping to establish himself as a first-team regular. Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, 24, has spoken of his composure regarding the possibility of another stopper arriving at the club during this window — a measured response that suggests a settled and self-assured figure between the posts.
Rangers Interest Attracts Bundesliga Attention
Across the city, Rangers are facing the prospect of losing defender Emmanuel Fernandez, with Bayer Leverkusen reported to be leading the race to secure the 25-year-old Nigerian's signature. Leverkusen, fresh from their remarkable unbeaten Bundesliga title victory under Xabi Alonso, represent an enormously attractive proposition for any player, and Rangers will be wary of losing a significant defensive asset to one of European football's most coveted clubs.
Elsewhere in Scottish football, St Johnstone goalkeeper Simo Valakari is reportedly considering whether to run three goalkeepers in competition for the number one shirt at McDiarmid Park — a decision that underlines the depth of options available to him and the competitive environment he appears keen to cultivate.
For Celtic, however, the immediate priority is business both on and off the pitch. Tuesday's second leg against LASK offers the chance to confirm their passage into the Champions League group phase, at which point the Gineitis pursuit is expected to move into its most decisive stage. Should the deal be concluded, it would represent another assured piece of business from a club that has continued to operate with clarity and ambition in the transfer market.
FAQs
Frequently asked
- Who is Gvidas Gineitis and what club does he play for?
- Gvidas Gineitis is a 22-year-old Lithuanian midfielder who plays for Italian Serie A side Torino. He has been linked with a move to Celtic during the summer transfer window.
- Are Celtic through to the Champions League group stage?
- Celtic have not yet confirmed their passage, but they hold a commanding 3-0 lead over Austrian side LASK from the first leg of their Champions League play-off, with the second leg to be played in Austria on Tuesday.
- Who is Martin O'Neill and why has he told Celtic players to stay off social media?
- Martin O'Neill is the manager of Celtic. Reports suggest he has instructed his squad to avoid social media, a move seen as part of his effort to instil focus and discipline within the dressing room ahead of a busy season.