Celtic's interest in midfielder Gvidas Gineitis has been reignited after the Lithuanian international publicly criticised his situation at Torino. The 24-year-old's comments come as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain continues to find minutes hard to come by at Celtic Park, adding to the squad rotation debate.

Gineitis moved to Torino last summer after a proposed transfer to Glasgow collapsed, with Celtic's reported £9 million bid deemed insufficient. He has since struggled for game time, being substituted at half-time in a defeat to Roma in September and appearing off the bench in last weekend's loss to Como. Speaking to Italian media after being hooked early, Gineitis made his frustration clear. "The manager decides," Gineitis said. "I wanted to play and I did what I could today."

He also vented about a tactical shift under manager Ignazio Abate. "The coach wants us to never be afraid and to play with the ball at our feet, whereas last year we played forward," Gineitis explained. "This year we've changed a lot." His openness to a future move and current dissatisfaction have put Celtic on alert for a potential approach when the transfer window reopens in January.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's fading role

Any move for Gineitis would directly impact Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's prospects. The 33-year-old veteran, signed as a free agent last season to help secure a domestic double, has been an unused substitute in all but one of Celtic's last six Premiership matches. His most recent action was a 30-minute cameo in the 7-1 rout of Hearts earlier this month. Analyst Michael Stewart noted Oxlade-Chamberlain is in a tough spot, with manager Neil Lennon showing a rigid selection preference for regulars like Callum McGregor, limiting opportunities for the former England international. Celtic's interest in reinforcing the midfield suggests Oxlade-Chamberlain's role could shrink further.

The squad planning unfolds as Celtic sit first in the Premiership with 28 points from 11 games, holding a four-point lead. Their form has been inconsistent lately, with the last five results showing two wins, one draw, and two defeats. They were held to a 2-2 draw by Dundee United on Sunday, with Camilo Durán scoring his seventh goal of the campaign. The focus now shifts to maintaining their league position, with a trip to face sixth-placed Falkirk next on the fixtures schedule. The potential addition of a player like Gineitis would be aimed at bolstering depth for the title run-in, where every point is key.

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