Celtic remain interested in much talked about summer target | OneFootball

Celtic remain interested in Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis and are lining up a move for the Lithuanian international in the January transfer window…

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC is challenged by Luca Lipani of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

The 22 year old was one of Martin O’Neill’s top targets during a frantic summer window, but despite negotiations taking place between Celtic officials and Torino officials, no deal ever came to fruition.

Brian Wilson, Dermot Desmond and Michael Nicholson overseeing 2 x £40m Champions League misses…

It’s since been revealed from several sources that the Celtic moneymen were unwilling to match the Serie A sides reported valuation of €13 million for the player.

9th September 2026; McDiarmid Park, Perth, Scottish Premiership Football, St Johnstone versus Celtic; Oliver Sorensen of Celtic and Jason Holt of St Johnstone challenge for the ball. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Failure to secure a place in the Champions League group stages, after blowing a four goal aggregate lead over Austrian champions LASK didn’t help Celtic’s hopes of landing the player either, and a loan deal for Parma’s Danish midfielder Oliver Sorensen was then seen as the preferred (code for cheaper) option.

Now, Football insider reports that Celtic remain keen on the 21-year-old and plan to revisit a deal when the January window opens.

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC and Valentino Lazaro of Torino FC enter the pitch to warm up ahead of the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

The player remains on Celtic’s radar, and Hoops could be encouraged by recent reports in Italy that he is at risk of losing his place in Torino’s starting line-up after a difficult start to the season.

Gineitis’ agent, Dmitry Vinokuro, recently said Celtic’s coaching staff supported the move and held positive discussions with the midfielder during negotiations.

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC in action during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Torino FC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on April 19, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Speaking to Lithuanian outlet LRT, Mr Vinokuro said: “I think if they had qualified for the Champions League then we would have had more chances for this transfer.

“I think then Celtic would have satisfied the wishes of the Turin club. They would have just known that they would get more money from the Champions League, and they would have needed a stronger player.”

Vinokuro also said that there’s been a difference of opinion within the Celtic ranks over the proposed deal. He said: “The interest from the coaching staff and their sports people was genuine.

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC in action during the Serie A match between Torino FC and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on April 11, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“We had a video call with the coaches; they were very positive about Guido. I think the main problem was that not everyone in the club’s management was as convinced about this transfer as the coaches. So, in the end, it all came down to Celtic’s final decision.

“When you’re making a transfer of this financial level, everyone on the buyer’s side has to agree.”

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