Celtic have rejected Nottingham Forest’s £25 million offer for Arne Engels, it is now being reported.
The Premier League club have now had three offers rejected for the midfielder, who they are targeting in a last-minute scramble for a midfielder.
Martin O’Neill has sent a clear message on Engels, declaring that only a £100 million offer would tempt the Parkhead hierarchy to change their minds.
There’s no denying that £25 million is very tempting, however, and the Hoops rejecting this offer is a major statement of backing for the manager.
With just hours remaining of the January transfer window, is this the end of a last-minute saga?
Can Celtic afford to sell Arne Engels?
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Celtic reject third Nottingham Forest offer for Arne Engels
According to BBC Sport, Celtic have said no to the £25 million bid on Deadline Day, with the bid deemed short of the Hoops’ valuation.
That’s despite the fee only being exceeded in the club’s history by the sale of Matt O’Riley 18 months ago; Engels was the Dane’s replacement.
READ MORE: Johnny Kenny ‘heading for Celtic exit’ as English club close in on loan move
Photo by Ross MacDonald/Soccrates/Getty Images
It’s quite the story. Engels has emerged as a key player since O’Neill’s return, establishing himself in the team’s starting XI.
Earlier in the season, Engels challenged Brendan Rodgers over a lack of starts, following the signing of Benjamin Nygren.
But a lot can change in a few months, with Sean Dyche now seemingly keen on adding the Belgian’s set-piece prowess.
Forest have also pursued Inter’s Davide Frattesi and Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney in their late search for a midfield addition.
But with just hours to go before the deadline, their hopes of taking Engels from Glasgow are wearing thinner and thinner.
You have £10m to spend on deadline day. Name one signing you would make for Celtic
Credit: Getty Images/Kristian Skeie – UEFA
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Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s Arne Engels
Speaking after Celtic’s 2-0 win over Falkirk, O’Neill was discussing Engels as reports of Forest’s first bid emerged.
The Hoops boss said: “Absolutely (We want to keep him). Yeah, absolutely. I didn’t hear that but I would, yeah, no question about it.
“Honestly, I’m telling you, I didn’t know a thing about it.
“If they’d done it, then they must have done it during the game. No, no, no, seriously. No, seriously, because I didn’t know a thing about it.
“And I’d want it rebuffed, unless it was £100 million. And then I think the board would step in then.”
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