Celtic eyeing country’s 2024 and 2025 Player of the Year to replace Engels

Celtic are wasting no time preparing for life after Arne Engels.

The Belgian midfielder is closing in on a move to West Ham after the clubs reached an agreement worth around £22 million, with Engels also agreeing personal terms.

His exit would bring Celtic a sizeable return on the club-record fee paid to Augsburg in 2024, but it would also remove one of Martin O’Neill’s most trusted players.

Nottingham Forest had three offers rejected in January, including a package worth £25 million. Celtic kept him for the title run in, but West Ham have now made the breakthrough.

The timing leaves Celtic with little room for error.

O’Neill has strengthened his squad with Mika Baur, while Reo Hatate’s future has also been the subject of speculation, but replacing Engels will require more than simply adding another body.

That is where Gvidas Gineitis enters the picture.

The Torino midfielder has built a strong reputation in Serie A after moving to Italy as a teenager.

Gineitis began his senior career in Lithuania before joining SPAL’s academy in 2020. Torino signed him in February 2022 and promoted him into their first team during the following season.

He made his Serie A debut against AC Milan in February 2023 and has gradually become a regular. Last season brought 29 league appearances, including 23 starts, as Gineitis recorded one assist in 1,763 minutes.

Those numbers do not present him as a direct replacement for Engels’ goals, but they show a 22-year-old trusted in one of Europe’s strongest leagues.

The 6ft 3in midfielder is left-footed, physically imposing and comfortable centrally. He can sit deeper or move forward as a box-to-box midfielder, with his long-range shooting becoming a feature for Lithuania.

While playing for Torino, Gineitis was named Lithuanian Footballer of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. He also collected the country’s young player award and goal of the year prize for 2025.

Torino extended his contract until 2029 last summer, with an option for another season.

Gineitis’ agent, Dmitry Vinokurov, confirmed earlier this month that contact had taken place by the Bhoys, although no formal offer had been made. He also hinted that the player was prepared to consider the opportunity.

Celtic make Gineitis ‘prime target’ to replace Arne Engels

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has now placed Gineitis among Celtic’s two leading options to replace Engels.

Joseph reports that the Lithuanian and Hajduk Split’s Canada international Niko Sigur are the prime names on a wider shortlist.

Sigur can operate in midfield and at right back, while Gineitis offers greater size and proven experience in a major European league.

No deal is described as advanced, and Celtic could face competition for Gineitis following reported interest from Red Bull Salzburg.

However, the Engels sale gives Celtic the funds and urgent need to act.

Gineitis would not be an identical replacement, but he would give O’Neill a different midfield presence, with international experience and plenty of room to develop further.