Martin O’Neill is determined to hold on to Arne Engels despite late interest from Nottingham Forest.
Reports suggest Celtic have already turned down a £14 million offer from the Premier League side for the influential midfielder. Forest are believed to have tested the waters on Sunday, but the Hoops swiftly rejected the proposal.
Engels remains under contract at Parkhead for another two and a half years, having signed a four-year deal when he arrived from Augsburg in the summer of 2024 in a move worth around £11 million. Celtic are understood to have had no desire to part with the player during the January window and were quick to dismiss the bid, which arrived only hours before deadline day.
Sky Sports claim Forest could still consider returning with an improved offer, but O’Neill has made his stance crystal clear. When asked about the interest, the Celtic boss left no room for doubt.
“Absolutely, no question about it,” O’Neill said. “I’d want any bid knocked back unless it was £100 million.”
Interest in Engels has not been limited to England, with clubs in Germany also monitoring his situation during the window. The midfielder featured in Sunday’s Scottish Premiership victory over Falkirk, underlining his importance to O’Neill’s plans.
With the transfer window closing on Monday, February 2, Celtic remain focused on strengthening their squad while keeping key figures like Engels firmly in place.