CELTIC have knocked back a £17million bid for Arne Engels from Nottingham Forest.
Martin O’Neill was delighted with the rejection of the offer for the Belgian playmaker and insisted the board may have been tempted at £100million!
Engels, who cost the champions a record £11million when he arrived from Bundesliga outfit Augsburg in the summer of 2024, was the subject of an initial £14million move from the Premier League club at the weekend, according to a BBC report.
That was immediately rejected and they upped the ante to £17million in a renewed bid for the 22-year-old international midfielder.
Again, Forest were told ‘no deal’ and, asked about the possibility of a move for Engels after the 2-0 win over Falkirk yesterday, O’Neill answered: “Honestly, I am telling you, I didn’t know anything about it.
“If they have, then they must have done it during the game. And I would want it rebuffed, unless it was £100million.
“Then I think the board would step in there. No, absolutely, I would rather keep him.”
Forest will now be forced to look elsewhere while O’Neill continues his efforts to strengthen his squad with tonight’s 11pm deadline approaching.
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