Rejecting bids for Arne Engels was Celtic board’s only option | OneFootball

Rejecting the bids for Arne Engels was the Celtic board’s only option, and it more than proves the financial muscle we carry. So why not use it?…

Arne Engels of Celtic scores from the spot during the Scottish Premiership match between Livingston and Celtic at Set Fare Arena on December 27, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Arne Engels was the subject of a desparate deadline day bid by Nottingham Forest who made THREE bids for the Belgian, the last of which was a massive £25 million, a huge figure, but the club stood firm and rebuffed all approaches, repeatedly telling the English Premier League club that the player was NOT for sale in this transfer window.

Many were surprised that our usually cash hungry board withstood the temptation to cash in on a player they paid £11 million for on just 18 months ago in a move from Bundesliga side Augsburg. However the truth is they had no other option as cashing in on the midfielder would have unleashed a wave of protest in their direction, much more than they’ve been experiencing over these past few months.

Arne Engels of Celtic is challenged by Emanuel Aiwu of Strum Graz during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on October 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Cashing in on a player who is a regular first team starter, and one who is seen as vital in the eyes of Martin O’Neill would have been the final straw in the eyes of the supporters, and the management team for that matter. It might have been different if they had a quality replacement lined up but the lack of planning coupled with poor decision making is a feature of how things are run at Celtic under the current CEO Michael Nicholson.

What’s been overlooked a little due to the hysteria created over such a eye watering bid, is the very fact that Celtic is in a such position to turn down such an offer, a figure that no one else in the league would dare refuse.

Matt O’Riley of Celtic poses for a photo with the PlayStation Player Of The Match award after the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park on October 25, 2023. (Photo by Jan Kruger – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

That figure would sit alongside the fee we received for Kieran Tierney, Jota, and Matt O’Riley, had we accepted it. £100 million for four players, that is incredible in our current landscape.

Those previous bids were accepted without hesitation, but to do so this time would cause a fresh round of animosity, and the board knew it. To refuse such an offer also proves that we are in a terrific position financially, there is no doubt about that.

But it has to be asked, once again, why on earth don’t we put that financial power to good use and build a squad who can dominate domestically whilst making an impact in Europe?

Arne Engels with Brendan Rodgers at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Brendan Rodgers left due to this type of miserly behaviour, when he could have taken us to the next level if he was handed a just a fraction of the wealth we hoard in the bank.

The argument used against Rodgers was that the club backed him in the summer 2024 window and the Board couldn’t see the financial model work when signing players like Engels around the £10m mark rather than the £2m punts so favoured by those in the Celtic boardroom.

Nottingham Forest blew that argument out the water yesterday with their £25m bid for a player Celtic signed for £11m.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill looks on during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on February 01, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Martin O’Neill could have also put those riches to good use, but more importantly so can the next man who is chosen to become manager of Celtic Football Club, something that we’ve been looking at on The Celtic Star today.

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