Celtic do not appear to be any closer to signing Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis despite the midfielder sparking fresh rumours by missing a pre-season friendly.
Gineitis recently missed Torino's pre-season friendly with Vado despite playing in the previous game, against Burnley. With Celtic said to be interested in a deal, the rumour mill went into overdrive, but the absence has now been explained.
Gineitis misses pre-season game due to overload
According to CeltsAreHere, Gineitis missed the friendly due to an overload, with Torino realising it would be a good idea to rest the midfielder due to a heavy pre-season workload.
That's all there was to the absence, according to the report. It's also claimed that Gineitis appreciates Celtic interest, but there is no sign of a deal being close at this stage. It's claimed Gineitis' representatives are actually speaking to other clubs about possible deals, unable to wait around for Celtic, who have not made their move.
Torino are said to be asking for somewhere between £9million and £12million to sell this summer, and there may well be clubs out there who are happy to pay that amount. Torino are, according to the report, willing to negotiate if a reasonable offer arrives. But at this stage, Celtic have not sent an offer.
Celtic have clear midfield needs
Celtic are going to have to sign at least two new midfielders this summer on the assumption that Arne Engels will leave the club, which will almost certainly be the case.
The Bhoys are clearly interested in a move for Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur, but they have not shown a willingness to meet the German club's asking price, which is a little above their rejected offer.
That still feels like the most realistic midfielder deal at this stage, but there has been no news of progress. Celtic have been busy working on getting the Haissem Hassan deal over the line, and it looks as though that deal will be done in the next couple of days.
Attention will then likely turn to other areas, and Celtic do need a left-back and a goalkeeper on top of their double midfielder need. Gineitis could be one of the midfielders Celtic decide to sell, but with Hassan almost signed, Baur firmly on the shortlist and other deals to do, it could be one they come back to later on if the player remains available. At this stage, it seems no advances are being made.
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