Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has made it clear that he does not want to see any further members of his core squad depart during the upcoming summer transfer period, even as the club faces mounting interest in midfield prospect Arne Engels and full‑back Alistair Johnston. According to a report from Sky Sports News on Friday, West Ham United have entered negotiations to acquire the Belgian midfielder, but Celtic have set a price tag of £25 million and are unwilling to accept less.
O'Neill confirmed that an offer had indeed been tabled, yet he described it as falling "not even close" to the club's valuation, effectively rejecting the bid. At the same time, Johnston’s profile has risen sharply following a standout performance for Canada at the World Cup, prompting speculation that he could be on the move.
O'Neill disclosed that he had spoken with Everton manager David Moyes about a possible transfer, saying, "Everton have been in contact. I'm not sure whether there has been a bid in for that one. In fairness, David called me last weekend to tell me that there would be contact. But I don't know how far that has progressed, or if it has at all." This admission underscores the delicate balancing act Celtic face: they must protect their assets while also navigating the financial realities of modern football.
The current window has been heavily weighted against Celtic. To date, fourteen players have left the club, including Daizen Maeda’s move to Ipswich Town, Kelechi Iheanacho’s transfer to Bursaspor, and the conclusion of several high‑profile loan agreements. In response, the club has bolstered its attacking options by signing two forwards: Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, the latter arriving for a club‑record fee. Despite these acquisitions, O'Neill remains wary of further departures as Celtic prepare to defend the Scottish Premiership title.
"I was hoping as each day went past that there wouldn't be any serious interest. But that was never going to happen. Now that you say 14 [players who have left] I'm worried myself," O'Neill said.
He added that the club had intended to build a cohesive squad and retain existing talent, but the reality of the market often undermines those ambitions. "We did want to build this squad and bring players in anyway.
Hopefully they would have stayed at the football club. Alistair did excellent work with Canada and that enhanced his chances. I think you have to try and do your best to balance everything and try and get new players in and try and hold the players that you have at the same time. That's utopia.
Unfortunately, that's not real life." The manager also expressed uncertainty about whether either Engels or Johnston would be available for Celtic’s opening Scottish Premiership fixture against Dundee on Monday, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The uncertainty reflects the broader challenge of squad planning when key players are under constant scrutiny from rival clubs. Tactically, Celtic have traditionally operated in a 4‑3‑3 or 4‑4‑2 formation, which historically limited the number of central strikers to one.
With the summer signings of both Hogh and Duran, O'Neill is confident that he can adapt his system to accommodate both forwards. "I would think that given the time that the two players should be able to play together without a problem," he explained.
"I don't know what that means, changing systems, changing all that type of stuff. But, they're good players.
He [Duran] has played out wide as well, so that's encouraging. I'm not so sure that's eventually where I'll play him. I see him being able to play as a striker or just off the striker." Beyond Celtic, the Scottish football landscape is also buzzing with transfer chatter. Sky Sports News reported that both Celtic and Rangers are monitoring Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis, a 23‑year‑old Algerian international who impressed with 15 goals and three assists in Italy’s Serie B, helping his team earn promotion to Serie A and earning a spot in Algeria’s World Cup squad.
Rangers, who are seeking to replace departing winger Oliver Antman, have also shown interest in Coventry City’s Jahnoah Markelo, while Brighton’s Amario Cozier‑Duberry and former Ibrox loanee Vaclav Cerny have been linked with moves to the Glasgow club, though Cerny’s high wages at Besiktas could pose a hurdle. Overall, O'Neill’s message is one of cautious optimism.
While the club has secured new attacking talent and remains competitive on the pitch, the manager acknowledges that retaining key players amid external interest is a complex, often unattainable goal. The upcoming season will test Celtic’s depth and adaptability, as they strive to defend their domestic crown while navigating the ever‑present transfer market pressures.