Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has made it clear that he does not want to see any further departures of his core squad during the upcoming summer transfer period, even as speculation mounts around midfielder 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 hefty price tag of £25 million. O'Neill confirmed that a bid had indeed been tabled, yet he dismissed it as falling "not even close" to the club's valuation. At the same time, the Canadian right‑back Johnston has attracted increasing attention after a standout performance for his country at the World Cup.
O'Neill disclosed that he has been in contact with Everton manager David Moyes regarding a possible transfer. "Everton have been in touch," he said.
"I’m not sure whether a formal offer has been made yet. David called me last weekend to say there would be contact, but I have no idea how far the talks have progressed, or if they have progressed at all." Celtic’s transfer window to date has been heavily weighted toward exits, with fourteen players having left the club. Departures include Daizen Maeda moving to Ipswich Town, Kelechi Iheanacho heading for Bursaspor, and the conclusion of several high‑profile loan agreements.
In contrast, the club has added two forwards: Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, the latter arriving for a club‑record fee. The influx of new talent is intended to bolster a squad that will soon begin defending the Scottish Premiership title. O'Neill stressed his desire to stem the flow of exits.
"I was hoping each day that there wouldn’t be any serious interest, but that was never realistic. Seeing fourteen players already gone makes me uneasy," he admitted.
"We wanted to build this squad and bring in new faces, and ideally they would have stayed. Alistair’s excellent work with Canada has only increased his appeal." He went on to explain the delicate balancing act required in modern football. "You have to try to get new players in while also holding on to the ones you have – that’s a utopia.
In reality, it’s not that simple," O'Neill said, acknowledging the challenges of maintaining squad continuity while competing in a market where other clubs are eager to snap up talent. The manager also expressed uncertainty about whether Engels or Johnston would be available for Celtic’s opening Premiership match against Dundee on Monday, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. He added that the club’s tactical setup last season – typically a 4‑3‑3 or 4‑4‑2 – limited the number of central strikers to one, but the summer signings of both Hogh and Duran give him more flexibility. "I think, given the time we have, the two forwards should be able to play together without any problem," O'Neill said.
"I’m not sure what that means in terms of changing systems, but they’re good players." He noted that Duran has also featured on the wing, which could provide additional options. "He has played out wide, which is encouraging. I’m not certain that’s where I’ll eventually use him, but I see him as either a striker or a support striker," O'Neill explained. Beyond Celtic, the Scottish football landscape is buzzing with other transfer rumours.
Sky Sports News reported that both Celtic and Rangers are eyeing Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis. The 23‑year‑old Algerian international, who helped his Italian club secure promotion to Serie A with 15 goals and three assists last season, has also attracted interest from clubs in Italy, England and the United States.
Rangers, who are looking to replace the departing Oliver Antman, have listed Ghedjemis among their targets, while Celtic have previously come close to signing him in January. Additional names mentioned in the Scottish transfer chatter include Coventry City winger Jahnoah Markelo, who is reportedly on Rangers’ radar, and Brighton prospects Amario Cozier‑Duberry and Vaclav Cerny – the latter having previously spent a loan spell at Ibrox but facing potential wage hurdles at his current club Besiktas. Overall, O'Neill’s primary goal remains clear: to keep his best players at Celtic while integrating the new signings in a way that strengthens the team’s chances of retaining the league crown. The manager acknowledges the difficulty of achieving a perfect balance between recruitment and retention, but he remains optimistic that the additions of Hogh and Duran will provide the depth and versatility needed to compete on multiple fronts.
As the summer window continues, Celtic will need to navigate offers, negotiate valuations, and possibly adjust tactical formations to accommodate the evolving squad, all while keeping an eye on the ultimate prize – another successful defence of the Scottish Premiership title.