Truth be told, Mustafi isn't that much better than Phillips or Williams. The issue is that, at 19-years-old, Williams could have an excellent future ahead of him. A costly mistake this season could well mean that he never reaches his potential. It is best that he does not play again until he is ready. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY GOAL.
Celtic are edging closer to securing the signature of Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, with the transfer widely expected to be completed before the window closes.
The Lithuanian international has been identified as a top priority for Celtic this summer as the club looks to reshape its midfield options heading into the new season.
Gineitis has emerged as the preferred candidate to fill the void left by the departure of Arne Engels, whose exit created an urgent need for a dynamic central midfielder.
The 22-year-old brings considerable physical attributes to the table, along with the energetic presence in central midfield that Celtic’s coaching staff have been actively searching for.
Celtic made an initial approach over the weekend, but Torino rejected the offer, deeming the bid too low to meet their valuation of the player.
The Italian club are believed to value Gineitis at around €14–15 million, which translates to approximately £12–13 million in British currency.
Should Celtic meet that asking price, the deal would rank among the largest transfer fees the Glasgow club has ever paid for a single player.
Gineitis found himself on the fringes of Torino’s first-team plans last season, registering just 1,763 minutes of Serie A football across the campaign.
Having been made available for transfer, Celtic have emerged as the frontrunners to secure his signature, with progress in negotiations reported over the past 24 hours.
The young Lithuanian international is now widely expected to complete his move to Celtic Park before the transfer window shuts for business.
If the deal is finalised in the coming days, Gineitis could make his competitive debut when Celtic travel to face St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic supporters will be hoping the club can agree a fee quickly and avoid missing out on a player who appears ideally suited to the demands of the Scottish top flight.
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