Nottingham Forest bid for Celtic star Arne Engels – Martin O’Neill responds with €116m demand

€10m market value 

Nottingham Forest have reportedly tabled a €16.2 million bid for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels ahead of tomorrow’s 11pm transfer deadline. The 22-year-old, who has a market value of €10 million, has been linked with a move away from Celtic Park throughout the January window. A number of Bundesliga clubs are also thought to have been reportedly tracking the highly-rated midfielder since he made the move to the Scottish capital 18 months ago.

The Belgian arrived in August 2024 from German side Augsburg for a €13 million fee, having been plucked from Club Brugge’s academy team Club NXT for just €100,000 in January 2023. Now, it appears Forest boss Sean Dyche is ready to step up his interest and make a move. It may be that the relegation-threatened outfit perhaps see him as a replacement for Elliot Anderson, who has been tracked by Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

However, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill is adamant the central midfielder is going nowhere unless a huge bid arrives. Following their 2-0 win over Falkirk on Sunday, O’Neill was asked if he wanted to keep Engels and the Northern Irishman replied: “Absolutely. No question about it. I’d want it rebuffed [any transfer bid] unless it was £100m (€115.5m).”

Engels has been one of the few Celtic players to shine this season in an otherwise gloomy campaign that has seen the Scottish champions go through three managers. Interim boss O’Neill was brought in to steady the ship for a second time this season following Wilfried Nancy’s turbulent 33-day reign and Brendan Rodgers’ acrimonious exit.

He has only missed one of their 24 Scottish Premiership games this season, and the Belgium international has chipped in with five goals as well as assisting seven in 37 appearances across all competitions. But now, it appears they face a fight on their hands to keep him in the final hours of the transfer window.