Arne Engels unfazed by Nottingham Forest bids as Celtic reject three offers | OneFootball

“He never made an issue,” said Celtic boss Martin O’Neill of Arne Engels amid Nottingham Forest interest, speaking to The Herald.

Forest had three bids rejected for the 22-year-old midfielder, with offers of £14m and £17m turned down before a package worth up to £25m was also rebuffed late in the window.

“It was what it was. The last offer we got, I didn’t realise until (chief executive officer) Michael Nicholson told me, was three hours before the deadline.”

“He’s not complained at all.”

Engels is sidelined with a thigh injury and is expected to return after the international break. O’Neill said: “It’s interesting sometimes, it’s only when somebody’s not playing do you actually miss them. I think that would be the case with Arne.”

Forest targeted midfield reinforcements for the run-in and explored several options, including NEC Nijmegen’s Kodai Sano, but none came off.

They finished the window with three signings, left-back Luca Netz from Borussia Monchengladbach on deadline day, striker Lorenzo Lucca on loan from Napoli and goalkeeper Stefan Ortega from Manchester City.

The Reds are expected to revisit midfield recruitment in the summer regardless of division, with England international Elliot Anderson set to draw plenty of interest.

Securing survival would strengthen their hand against suitors for prized assets. Sunday’s 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur moved Vitor Pereira’s side three points clear with seven games remaining.

Source: Nottingham Post