Celtic are preparing to step up their pursuit of Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis once their Champions League play-off tie with LASK is settled, according to reports circulating in the British press.
The Scottish Premiership champions travel to Austria on Tuesday holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg, and it is only after that fixture concludes that the Glasgow club are expected to fully turn their attention to negotiations for the 22-year-old Lithuania international.
Gineitis has shown flashes of quality for Torino this season, including a role in setting up Scotland forward Che Adams for a well-taken consolation goal during Torino's 2-1 defeat to AC Milan on Sunday. That contribution is understood to have further caught the eye of Celtic's recruitment staff as they assess options to strengthen their midfield options.
Elsewhere in the club's ongoing business, manager Martin O'Neill has publicly expressed confidence in right-back Colby Donovan, suggesting the defender is set to play a significant part in Celtic's plans going forward. O'Neill has also issued instructions to his squad regarding conduct away from the pitch, telling players to steer clear of social media as the club looks to maintain focus during a busy period of fixtures and transfer speculation.
In goal, Celtic's current number one, Viljami Sinisalo, has downplayed any concerns about the club potentially bringing in competition for his starting spot this transfer window. The 24-year-old shot-stopper appears relaxed about the situation, even as reports suggest Celtic could look to bolster their goalkeeping options before the window closes.
Across Glasgow, Rangers may be facing the prospect of losing defender Emmanuel Fernandez, with Bayer Leverkusen reportedly leading the chase for the 25-year-old Nigerian's signature. German outlets have linked the Bundesliga side with a move that could see Fernandez depart Ibrox, though details of any formal proposal have yet to emerge.
Further afield in Scottish football, St Johnstone are weighing up their goalkeeping situation, with the club potentially set to have three different goalkeepers vying for the starting role at McDiarmid Park. The Perth club's coaching staff appear open to fostering internal competition for the position as they look to settle on their preferred option between the posts.
As Celtic's Champions League campaign hangs in the balance, much of the immediate focus in Scottish football has understandably centered on Tuesday's clash in Austria. A resounding first-leg scoreline gives O'Neill's side a strong platform to secure passage to the next stage, and successfully navigating that hurdle would allow the club to fully commit resources and attention to strengthening the squad through the remainder of the transfer window.
Whether that includes a serious pursuit of Gineitis remains to be seen, but reports suggest Celtic view the Lithuanian international as a genuine target worth pursuing once European commitments are resolved. His performances in Serie A this season, including his recent assist against Milan, have added weight to speculation linking him with a move to Scotland.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, The Sun, The Scotsman, The Record, Glasgow Times, The Herald, Fussballdaten, and The Courier.