Celtic’s pursuit of Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis has collapsed just hours before a critical Europa League squad registration deadline.
The 23-year-old Lithuanian international had been on Celtic’s radar since January, when he was considered as a replacement for Arne Engels.
Engels had attracted a £25 million bid from Nottingham Forest during the January window, keeping Gineitis firmly in the Hoops’ sightlines throughout the season.
After Engels completed a £22 million move to West Ham earlier this summer, Gineitis emerged as Celtic’s primary midfield target heading into the final days of the transfer window.
The Scottish transfer window officially closes at 5pm on Thursday, September 3, but Celtic faced an earlier crunch point with Wednesday’s 11pm Europa League squad deadline.
Torino’s position became clearer when Gineitis was handed a starting role in the club’s Coppa Italia clash with Monza, a pointed signal amid the transfer uncertainty surrounding the player.
That selection came just hours after Torino moved swiftly to strengthen their own midfield options, snapping up both Rolando Mandragora and Daniel Braganca on deadline day in Italy.
Reports indicate that Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson “did not proceed in negotiations in a way that put Celtic in position to close the deal,” a damning assessment of how the pursuit unravelled.
The collapse represents a significant blow to Celtic’s ambitions of bolstering their midfield depth ahead of their European campaign this season.
Despite the Gineitis setback, Celtic have remained active throughout Wednesday’s frantic deadline activity, bringing in Sam Johnstone, Landon Emenalo, and Shumaira Mheuka on loan deals.
PSV midfielder Joël van den Berg was also expected to seal a permanent switch to Parkhead, offering some consolation to supporters disappointed by the Gineitis developments.
Celtic’s recruitment team will now need to assess whether any alternative midfield options remain available before the Scottish transfer window slams shut at 5pm on Thursday.
About the Author
