Celtic reject improved €20m Nottingham Forest bid for Arne Engels | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill is determined to fend off outside interest in Arne Engels as speculation grows over the midfielder’s future with today being deadline day and Nottingham Forest determined to test Celtics resolve to hold into the Belgian star…

Arne Engels of Celtic. 01.02.2026 Celtic v Falkirk, Scottish Premiership. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

The Scottish champions yesterday turned down a £14 million offer from Nottingham Forest for the Belgian midfielder and a further improved bid of £17.3m from the Premier League club has also been rejected by Celtic this morning.

Forest are believed to have been told that Angels is NOT for sale and that Celtic hope that this is the end of their interest in the player. Whether Forest come back today with a third bid of perhaps £20m rather than their current valuation at €20m remains to be seen.

Engels remains under contract at the Hoops for another two and a half years, having signed a four-year agreement after arriving from Augsburg in the summer of 2024 in a deal worth around £11 million. Forest’s bids put to bed the Rodgers-haters view that the record spend on Engels was money poured down the drain.

Celtic are understood to have had no desire to cash in on the player during the January window and wasted little time in dismissing the late approach, which arrived during O’Neill’s side’s 2-0 victory over Falkirk.

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)

However Forest may yet test Celtic’s resolve with a revised and improved third offer.

When questioned about the reported pursuit of the midfielder, O’Neill made it clear that he has no desire to see Engels depart. Speaking on the speculation linking the player with a move away, the Celtic boss was unequivocal about his stance.

Addressing whether he is keen to retain Engels despite Nottingham Forest’s interest, O’Neill said: “Absolutely… No question about it. I’d want it rebuffed [any transfer bid]unless it was £100m.”

Engels was also the subject of enquiries from clubs in Germany over the course of the window with the player himself dismissing interest from RB Leipzig as he wants to remain at Celtic to help us win the league. Engels featured for Celtic in their Scottish Premiership victory against Falkirk yesterday afternoon and Sandman explains the key role Engels is playing under Martin O’Neill that is allowing us to see a more effective role from Callum McGregor.

Well worth reading Sandman’s Definitive Ratings today folks.

With the transfer window shutting tonight, the Hoops remain active in the market as they look to strengthen their squad.

Next up for Celtic is a trip to Pittodrie on Wednesday to face Aberdeen. Martin O’Neill’s men will then be back at Celtic Park on Saturday evening for their last 16 tie against Dundee in the Scottish Cup.

Conor Spence

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