Nottingham Forest made a late attempt to prise Arne Engels away from Celtic on transfer deadline day, but their move was firmly knocked back.
Engels was a major target for Forest as the final hours of the window ticked away, yet Martin O’Neill refused to budge on the midfielder. The Celtic manager’s stance was particularly notable given his complicated history with the City Ground, following a brief and unhappy 19-match spell in charge of Forest that he has long argued did not give him time to make his mark.
By standing his ground and keeping Engels at Parkhead until at least the end of the season, O’Neill may feel he has won a small victory over Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
O’Neill on Engels’ reaction
There were suggestions that Engels was frustrated by the failed move, but O’Neill has played down those claims and insists the player took the situation in his stride.
Speaking to the Daily Record, O’Neill said the Belgian showed no signs of disappointment after the approach was rejected.
“Arne seemed bright and breezy this morning,” he said. “I probably didn’t even want to bring it up with him. He didn’t make any fuss about it, even though the interest came very late.
“I think his agent was comfortable with how things played out. He felt this was fine. Arne is happy here and wants to see how the season finishes.
“Of course it’s tempting when big money is being talked about, especially in this league, but Celtic didn’t bite. I’m delighted with that and we can reassess everything in the summer.”
Did Forest miss their chance?
Forest could return to the market in the summer, particularly if Elliot Anderson moves on and significant funds become available. However, that scenario could also see Marinakis looking for a midfielder with more established Premier League pedigree, which might leave Engels considering other options.
A January deal worth more than £20 million would have raised eyebrows, especially with Forest already well served in midfield. Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare have formed a strong partnership, meaning any new arrival would likely have struggled for a starting place.
For now, Engels remains focused on finishing the campaign strongly with Celtic. Whether Forest come back for him in the summer, or whether another suitor emerges, will be one of the more intriguing subplots to watch in the months ahead.