Celtic’s £25m Sale Is On Focus This Summer: What Should Be The Right Decision At Ibrox? | OneFootball

The Premier League big spenders are locked in at Parkhead again. Fulham and Sunderland have joined Nottingham Forest in a fierce battle to sign Celtic midfielder Arne Engels. This isn’t just standard paper talk. Forest have skin in the game, having already seen bids of £14 million, £17 million, and a staggering £25 million deadline-day offer knocked back during the January window. Celtic didn’t blink then.

They might have to now.

Engels arrived from FC Augsburg for £11 million in August 2024. It was a record fee at the time, and the 22-year-old Belgian has certainly delivered. Despite a tricky domestic start under Brendan Rodgers and a frustrating month out with a thigh injury, he found his feet. He became an absolute mainstay under double-winning boss Martin O’Neill. Seven goals and eight assists across 46 competitive games tell their own story. That is a massive return from the engine room.

Ryan McGinlay joined Josh McCafferty on Tuesday’s edition of the morning briefing. He added: “Celtic will try and drive profits as best as they can for their best players, which is good to see.

“The fact it’s the Premier League clubs that have been linked with Arne Engels will suggest that they’ll get close to that £25 million sort of ceiling that they’ve got when it comes to selling players.”

He said: “If you’re to sell Arne Engels, I’d want that money to be used for a couple of replacements, not just a like-for-like.

“I’d want to use that money that’s generated from Engels to actually transform the midfield.”

The leverage sits entirely with Celtic. Engels is locked down on a contract until 2028, meaning the board can dictate the terms. But with Sunderland flying high after a seventh-place Premier League finish and securing Europa League football, the lure of England is massive. Forest aren’t going away either.

The Opinion for Celtic: Cash In, Reinvest, and Don’t Look Back

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 29: Arne Engels of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on January 29, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Let’s be completely honest about this. Celtic do not need the money. The balance sheet is healthy. But when clubs start waving cheques north of £25 million for a player who was out of favour 12 months ago, refusing to sell isn’t clever. It’s just stubborn.

But there is a catch. If the board takes the money, they cannot just buy a direct replacement and pocket the change. That gets the squad nowhere. The Engels cash needs to completely transform the midfield. We are talking about two top-tier, ready-made starters, not project signings for the future.

Fulham are a wildcard right now after Marco Silva’s departure. Forest are the one driving the pace. Celtic’s hierarchy must hold out for top dollar; think £28 million or don’t even answer the phone. Then, move fast.

O’Neill isn’t the type of manager to accept a patched-up squad for a gruelling Champions League campaign. He needs bodies through the door before the summer window turns into a circus. Celtic built massive momentum last season. Sitting on their hands and letting this saga drag on until deadline day would be a total disaster. Take the profit, split the fee, and upgrade the squad.