Key Points
- Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis remains disappointed after a proposed summer transfer to Celtic collapsed prior to the deadline.
- Celtic walked away from a £12 million valuation during the summer transfer window after submitting two separate bids that were deemed insufficient by the Italian club.
- Torino are now prepared to lower their asking price to between €8 million and €10 million (approximately £6.7 million to £8.3 million) for the upcoming January window.
- Despite Celtic manager Martin O’Neill pushing for the signing, the club’s hierarchy declined to bridge the financial gap following their elimination from the UEFA Champions League.
- Torino have opened initial discussions with the 22-year-old Lithuanian international’s representatives regarding his future ahead of the winter market.
- It remains uncertain whether Gineitis would still be open to joining Celtic if the Scottish Premiership club renews its interest in January.
Celtic FC (Glasgow Express) November 14, 2026 – Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis is reportedly still frustrated by the collapse of his proposed summer move to Celtic, even as the Serie A club prepares to reduce its asking price ahead of the January transfer window. Having previously walked away from a £12 million valuation after seeing two bids rejected, the Scottish champions could now secure the 22-year-old Lithuanian international for between €8 million and €10 million, though doubts remain over whether the player still wishes to make the switch to Glasgow.
- Key Points
- Why did Gvidas Gineitis’s summer transfer to Celtic collapse?
- How much will Torino ask for Gvidas Gineitis in January?
- Is Gvidas Gineitis still interested in joining Celtic?
- What is the background behind Celtic’s midfield search and Gineitis’s current form?
- How could this development affect Celtic supporters and the club’s January plans?
Why did Gvidas Gineitis’s summer transfer to Celtic collapse?
The proposed transfer of Gvidas Gineitis to Parkhead broke down late in the summer transfer window due to a disagreement over the midfielder’s valuation and internal hesitation within the Celtic boardroom.
As reported by Daniele Najjar of TuttoMercatoWeb, Celtic submitted two distinct offers to Torino during the summer market, both of which were rejected by the Italian club as insufficient. While Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was strongly in favour of bringing the Lithuania international to Scotland, the club’s hierarchy chose not to bridge what was described as a manageable financial gap between the two sides.
Furthermore, Gineitis’s representative previously shed light on the breakdown of negotiations during an appearance on Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT. The agent stated that “personal terms with Guido were never agreed” because Celtic insisted on reaching a club-to-club agreement with Torino first, noting that negotiations typically proceed in the opposite order.
Addressing the internal dynamics at Parkhead, the agent added on LRT that “the interest from the coaching staff and their sports people was genuine” following a positive video call with the coaches, before explaining why the deal stalled:
“Ultimately, 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.”
He also suggested that failure to qualify for the Champions League directly impacted Celtic’s willingness to commit to the financial outlay.
How much will Torino ask for Gvidas Gineitis in January?
Torino are expected to lower their financial demands significantly when the winter transfer window opens, opening the door for potential suitors to revisit a deal.
According to Daniele Najjar of TuttoMercatoWeb, the Turin-based club could allow Gineitis to depart in January for a fee in the region of €8 million to €10 million—a figure that equates to roughly £6.7 million to £8.3 million, representing a notable drop from the £12 million threshold Celtic walked away from in the summer.
Torino have already initiated preliminary discussions with the player’s entourage to assess their options ahead of the January market. Gineitis is currently tied to the Serie A side until the summer of 2029, having signed a contract extension a year ago that also includes an option for an additional season. Despite his long-term deal, Torino are weighing the possibility of a winter sale, while also considering whether other European clubs might enter the race alongside Celtic.
Is Gvidas Gineitis still interested in joining Celtic?
Whether Gineitis would welcome a renewed approach from Celtic in January remains an open question following the disappointment of the summer saga.
As reported by Daniele Najjar of TuttoMercatoWeb, the midfielder was left stung by how the negotiations concluded, with the impression left on the player’s camp that Celtic’s board did not truly push to complete the transfer despite O’Neill’s backing. Consequently, while Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has suggested that Celtic could re-establish contact over the player in the winter window, Italian reports indicate there is no guarantee Gineitis would still be convinced to join the Scottish champions if they return with a €8 million to €10 million bid.
What is the background behind Celtic’s midfield search and Gineitis’s current form?
Celtic’s pursuit of Gineitis stems from a summer window in which the club failed to recruit a direct replacement for midfielder Arne Engels, leaving Martin O’Neill’s squad short of depth in central areas. However, Celtic’s recruitment budget was constrained after the club suffered elimination from the Champions League, depriving them of lucrative European prize money.
Since the summer deadline passed, Gineitis’s standing in Italy has experienced fluctuations. Under Torino head coach Ignazio Abate, the 22-year-old has remained a trusted squad member, making 10 Serie A appearances and providing two assists during the 2026–27 campaign, though he has started only five of those fixtures and played 467 minutes. Having established himself as a key figure for the Lithuania national team—scoring three goals in eight appearances during 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying—Gineitis has been viewing a move to a club competing in European competitions as a natural progression in his career.
How could this development affect Celtic supporters and the club’s January plans?
For Celtic supporters and the club’s recruitment team, Torino’s reduced valuation presents both a strategic opportunity and a delicate negotiation challenge ahead of the January window. With Martin O’Neill’s side competing at the top of the Scottish Premiership and pushing to secure progression in the UEFA Europa League, acquiring a Serie A-tested midfielder for roughly £6.7 million to £8.3 million would address a recognised gap in the squad at a considerably lower cost than in August.
However, Celtic’s willingness to sanction the expenditure may depend heavily on their European status come January, as progressing past the Europa League league phase would provide the financial incentive needed to justify the outlay. Even if the board approves a fresh bid, Celtic will likely need to rebuild trust with Gineitis and his representatives, as well as fend off potential competition from rival clubs alerted by Torino’s lowered asking price.
