Celtic have reportedly been given a green light by one of their midfield transfer targets. The Bhoys are in a tricky situation with just four weeks to go in the transfer window, still stuck on just two signings for the summer so far.
There have been as many exits as incomings, and Celtic came into the summer knowing they needed to address a number of positions while also replacing those who leave. Arne Engels and Reo Hatate are still yet to leave, so replacements for those players also need to be found.
At least two midfielders need to be sourced, and it looks as though Mika Baur and Gvidas Gineitis are the primary targets at this stage.
Gineitis gives Celtic green light
According to Football Insider, Torino star Gineitis is interested in joining the Bhoys this summer, although the current asking price could remain a sticking point.
Torino are said to want £12million to sell Gineitis, and Celtic's current bid is not at that level, though the report claims they are preparing to launch a fresh bid. It's unclear how much the Hoops are willing to spend on Gineitis, but they are expected to welcome as much as £25million for Arne Engels, so money shouldn't be a problem.
Then again, the Hoops have reached a sticking point over the Baur deal, with the difference reported to be around £300,000, so it's clear Celtic are still acting a little tight with their summer spending, even with the big money set to come in.
Celtic desperately need bodies, especially with their Champions League qualifiers with Austrian club LASK coming up, but while fans and Martin O'Neill appear to be feeling the rush, the club's recruitment chiefs are not, and so it's likely the Gineitis deal, like every other Celtic deal this summer, will rumble on for some time yet.
Gineitis fits the mould
O'Neill wants energetic midfielders who can play forward and back this summer, rather than a specific attacking or defensive midfielder, with those roles occupied by Benjamin Nygren and Callum McGregor respectively.
Gineitis is a left-footed player who is known for driving up the pitch with the ball at his feet, standing at 6ft3", and clearly a strong player. Those types of players rarely come cheap, and Torino will be well aware of the money Celtic are expecting to bring in this summer, which won't help the Bhoys in their bid to reduce the asking price.
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