The Hoops are set to finalise deals for Lorient winger Joel Mvuka and Freiburg forward Junior Adamu
18:18, 01 Feb 2026Updated 18:19, 01 Feb 2026
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill
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Celtic boss Martin O'Neill(Image: SNS Group)
Martin O'Neill has revealed Celtic are on the verge of a double swoop as they close in on moves for Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu.
The Hoops - who have kicked out a £14million offer from Nottingham Forest for Arne Engels - are set for a Manic Monday as they finalise a raft of deadline-busting deals. Lorient winger Mvuka is poised to clinch a £3m move today, while Freiburg forward Adamu is close to joining on loan.
O'Neill confirmed the pair were on the brink of completing their moves to Parkhead ahead of Monday's 11pm deadline. He said: "Yeah. I think they've either done their medicals or are about to do them. So that helps us a little bit as much as anything else.
"You never know, there might be something else before Monday evening. And then you won't be able to ask me on Tuesday, which will be the biggest relief of all time! But it's always been the same, so it's not a problem."
O’Neill - who watched his side leapfrog Rangers into second after a 2-0 win over Falkirk - has been desperately searching for more firepower.
The Northern Irishman reckons Austria international Adamu, 24, will offer something different to new Bhoy Tomas Cvancara and injury-hit Kelechi Iheanacho.
And he’s backed Norwegian wide man Mvuka to provide the explosive pace he’s been craving on the flanks.
Joel Mvuka of Lorient
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Joel Mvuka of Lorient(Image: Emilian Baldow/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
O’Neill said: "We need Iheanacho, who's a very fine player and can hold the ball up. He's played very, very little, but I think he can make an impact.
"He might not last games and things like this, so we definitely need someone strong in there. I think Adamu can do that. I think there's a little bit of pace with the young lad from Lorient.
"So it'll just give us a couple of options as much as anything else. The players, I think they deserve it. I think their efforts have been really, really big. I think you saw today where, with the number of games, there's just no respite for us.
"As a consequence, players would naturally feel tired. This will help supplement the squad, as I said, and hopefully there's a possibility of other things happening between now and 11 o'clock, I believe."
Meanwhile, O’Neill has issued a hands-off warning to Nottingham Forest as they chase a late deal for midfielder Engels.
Celts shattered their transfer record to land the Belgian in an £11m move from Augsburg last season. Engels has divided opinion among the Parkhead support but has been a key player under O’Neill.
It’s believed Premier League side Forest have had a £14m bid rebuffed for the 23-year-old, who is understood to be in no rush to leave Glasgow.
Arne Engels
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Arne Engels(Image: SNS Group)
O’Neill hinted he would be willing to sanction one or two exits for fringe players - but made it clear Engels is not for sale.
He said: "Yeah, absolutely. I hadn't heard that. No question about it. There's one or two of the lads here who have not played much football, and I can understand frustrations of that there.
"I know that, and if we can get some people in, I don't mind some players maybe going on loan or something like this who haven't played and desperately want to play. It's all right having a cause here like anything else, but if you're not playing, there's a natural frustration.
"So we'll see what develops in that, but obviously I'm not talking about Arne, I'm just talking in general. But if nothing does develop over the next 24 hours, then I would really rather keep the players because we will need them.
"They might not see that at this minute, but if we stay in competitions, if we do – and that's a big if – then we will need them."
Celtic could make a tidy profit by cashing in on Engels, but O’Neill joked: "I would want it rebuffed, unless it was 100 million. And then I think the board would step in there.”
With Mvuka and Adamu on their way, O’Neill remains in the market for another central defender and midfielder.
Stephen Welsh could return to Motherwell on loan if the Hoops land another stopper, and O’Neill hopes more business will be done.
He said: "It would be nice, it would really be nice, yeah, absolutely. Just to give us a few more options in other parts of the field."
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