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 window, especially as interest mounts around 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 firm asking price of around £25 million.
O'Neill confirmed that a bid has indeed been tabled, but he dismissed it as far below the club’s valuation, saying it "didn't remotely meet our valuation". At the same time, Johnston’s performances for Canada at the World Cup have attracted attention from several clubs, with Everton’s manager David Moyes reportedly in contact about a possible move. O'Neill explained that Everton have reached out, but he is uncertain whether a formal offer has been made or how far any discussions have progressed. "Everton have been in contact," he said.
"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." Celtic’s transfer activity this window has been heavily weighted toward exits. Fourteen players have already 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. To offset those losses, the club has added two forwards: Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, the latter arriving for a club‑record fee.
Despite these signings, O'Neill remains anxious about further attrition as the team prepares to defend its Scottish Premiership crown. "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 admitted. He added that the club had intended to build a stable squad and hoped the new arrivals would stay, but the reality of modern football often forces a balancing act between recruitment and retention.
"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," he said. The manager also expressed uncertainty about whether Engels or Johnston would be available for Celtic’s opening league fixture against Dundee on Monday, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. He urged fans to use a Chrome browser for the best video experience.
Tactically, Celtic often deployed a 4‑3‑3 or 4‑4‑2 formation last season, which limited the number of central striking positions. With the recent acquisition of both Hogh and Duran, O'Neill is confident he can integrate both forwards into the side. "I would think that given the time that the two players should be able to play together without a problem," he explained.
He noted that while the exact system may evolve, both players possess the quality to adapt. "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’s own dealings, the article also touched on transfer rumors involving their rivals Rangers. Sky Sports News reported that both Celtic and Rangers are eyeing Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis, a 23‑year‑old Algerian international who helped his Italian side earn promotion to Serie A and earned a spot in Algeria’s World Cup squad. Rangers have previously shown interest in Ghedjemis as part of a broader plan to strengthen their wide options after the departure of Oliver Antman.
Other names linked with the Ibrox club include Coventry City winger Jahnoah Markelo, Brighton’s Amario Cozier‑Duberry, and former loan player Vaclav Cerny, whose potential move could be complicated by wage demands at Besiktas. In summary, O'Neill’s primary objective this summer is to keep his squad intact while judiciously adding talent. He acknowledges the difficulty of achieving a perfect balance between selling and buying, yet remains optimistic that the new signings will blend with the existing group to mount a serious challenge for the league title. The manager’s candid remarks highlight the pressures Celtic face in a market where even promising talents like Engels and Johnston attract interest from clubs across England and beyond.
As the season approaches, fans will be watching closely to see how the transfer saga resolves and whether Celtic can retain the core that brought them recent success.