Celtic have decisively turned down a £14 million offer from Nottingham Forest for their promising Belgian midfielder, Arne Engels.
Manager Martin O’Neill made it clear that the club has no intention of letting the young star leave, revealing that only a jaw-dropping £100 million would even get the board to consider a sale.
Forest’s bid came right after Celtic’s 2-0 win over Falkirk, which temporarily lifted them above Rangers in the league standings on goal difference.
But O’Neill was blunt when addressing the attempt:
“Honestly, I didn’t know anything about it,” he admitted.
“If they did make a bid, it must have been during the game. I would want it turned down unless it was £100 million. No, absolutely, I’d rather keep him.”
The Premier League club could return with another offer before the January window shuts, but Celtic are determined to hold on to their 2024 £11 million signing.
Deadline Day Frenzy: New Signings on the Horizon
Celtic aren’t just focused on keeping Engels—they’re also busy bolstering their squad. O’Neill confirmed that deals for Freiburg striker Junior Adamu and Lorient winger Joel Mvuka are close to completion.
“Yeah, I think they’ve either done their medicals or are about to,” O’Neill said.
“That helps us a little bit. There might be something else before Monday evening at 11 o’clock, and then you won’t be able to ask me about it on Tuesday—which will be the biggest relief of all time.”
Daily Mail Sport reports that Celtic are also exploring options for another centre-back, which could impact Stephen Welsh’s potential loan move back to Motherwell.
The additions of Adamu and Mvuka are expected to give the squad more attacking options and depth for the title run-in.
Strengthening the Squad
O’Neill highlighted what each new signing could bring to the team: “Adamu is a very fine player who can hold the ball up. He hasn’t played much recently, but he can make an impact.
And the young lad from Lorient adds a bit of pace. It gives us options and hopefully more possibilities before 11pm.”
These moves come as Celtic aim to maintain momentum in the league and strengthen their squad for upcoming challenges.
Key Win Against Falkirk
Celtic’s 2-0 win over Falkirk was boosted by a stellar home debut from Tomas Cvancara, who headed in the opener after joining on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Benjamin Nygren added the second goal in the second half to secure the three points.
Both Celtic and Rangers are now six points behind league leaders Hearts, who drew 0-0 against Rangers at Easter Road earlier in the day.
O’Neill praised his team’s resilience, particularly after a demanding Europa League match against Utrecht last Thursday:
“It was a tough game. I was concerned about our energy levels after Thursday.
Falkirk are a really good side, and the manager has done a fantastic job. But we managed to win, which is very important to keep us in the race.”
Cvancara’s Impact
The manager also highlighted the significance of Cvancara’s contribution: “It was great, a real breakthrough for us.
He hasn’t played much recently, but he’s making the right moves and showing real promise. That goal will give him a big confidence boost. There’s a player in him, and I think he can improve even further.”
With the January transfer window nearing its close, Celtic are focused on strengthening their squad while keeping their prized assets, ensuring they remain competitive for the rest of the season.
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