Celtic knocked back multiple offers for Arne Engels over the winter transfer window
The winter transfer window closed for business in England at 7pm last night and the East Midlands club were forced to put a pin in their pursuit of Engels. They saw multiple bids rejected by the Scottish champions, who were not willing to let the midfielder leave at this point in the season.
Nottingham Forest denied Deadline Day move for Arne Engels
Forest were unsuccessful in their mission to bring Engels to the City Ground this window. Their pursuit stretched all the way to Deadline Day as the Premier League side submitted a third bid worth £25 million in attempt to convince the Hoops to cash in.
But Celtic stood firm and rejected a total of three transfer offers from Nottingham Forest. They had made it clear Engels was not for sale and Martin O’Neill voiced his hope that the club would push back against the attempts to sign the club’s record transfer.
Sky Sports reported that Celtic had been ‘mulling over’ the £25 million offer but in the end, it was another firm no from the Glasgow giants.
Forest also missed out on signing Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace, after they rejected a bid from Sean Dyche’s side worth £35 million.
Arne Engels ‘unhappy’ with Nottingham Forest transfer snub
The Hoops rejected the Premier League side’s latest offer due to not having enough time to sign a replacement, but Engels has still been left disappointed with how it all played out.
The Belgian reportedly ‘wanted the chance’ to speak with Nottingham Forest and he feels as though Celtic have ‘knocked back a fair offer for his services’.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently a free agent, so if Celtic are serious about signing him, they have the luxury of taking their time with approaching a deal. However, this could have potentially opened the door for Engels to explore a move to Forest, had it come earlier in the transfer window for the Premier League side.
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