Celtic 'have presented new offer' for £8.5m-valued midfielder, and it could be a huge win
Celtic are said to have presented a new offer for Torino star Gvidas Gineitis having been linked with the midfielder for much of the summer. The Bhoys are racing the clock to bring in new signings, with the transfer deadline at 5p on Wednesday.
But Celtic have an even closer deadline, with UEFA' Tuesday 11pm deadline effectively serving as their deadline, with players signed after that not eligible to play in the Europa League until the knockout phase, should the Hoops get there.
The Bhoys need a couple of midfielders, and they are on their way to getting one, with Joel Van den Berg expected to join from PSV Eindhoven, with his medical taking place on Monday.
But Martin O'Neill also needs a more combative midfielder to replace Arne Engels, who had a superb ability to carry the ball through the lines. New signing Mika Baur can drive forward, and he loves having the ball at his feet, but he is not particularly comfortable in defensive areas.
O'Neill has veteran duo Callum McGregor and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but he could do with more, especially with Europa League football to contend with.
Torino star Gineitis has been linked all summer, but he is expected to be a relatively pricey signing, likely costing around £8million to £8.5million.
It was thought that Celtic's Champions League elimination could put paid to the deal, but according to journalist Matteo Moretto, the Bhoys have made a new offer. He posted on X: "Celtic have presented a new offer for Gvidas Gineitis of Torino."
The news, if it proves true, will come as a relief to Celtic fans, who will have been concerned by reports that the Champions League qualification had significantly impacted recruitment.
Celtic have brought in £22million from Engels and £10 million for Daizen Maeda, and while they have spent money, there is much more money still in the kitty for further signings, and while the Europa League prize money is not close to that of the Champions League, it is still a rewarding competition to be involved in from a financial standpoint.
Fans are not blind to the fact Celtic is a profitable club, and they are calling for proper investment in the squad amid a rather sloppy transfer window. A move for Gineitis in spite of the club's Champions League failures, would be a much-needed win for the club's board as they look to convince fans they are still looking to do what is best for the squad and the club.
