Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has made it clear that he does not want to see any further senior members of his squad depart during the upcoming summer transfer period, even as several clubs begin to circle around two of his most promising talents, Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston. According to a report from Sky Sports News on Friday, West Ham United have entered negotiations to acquire the Belgian midfielder Arne Engels. Celtic, however, have set a firm price tag of £25 million for the player.
O'Neill confirmed that a bid has indeed been tabled, but he dismissed it as falling "remotely short of our valuation" and indicated that the club would not be forced into a sale at that level. At the same time, the right‑back position is attracting attention after Alistair Johnston shone for Canada at the recent World Cup. O'Neill disclosed that he has been in contact with Everton manager David Moyes regarding a possible move for the Canadian international.
"Everton have been in contact," O'Neill said. "I'm not sure whether there has been a bid in for that one.
In fairness, David called me last weekend to say there would be contact. But I don't know how far that has progressed, or if it has at all." Celtic’s transfer window to date has been heavily weighted toward departures. Fourteen players have already left the club, including Daizen Maeda’s transfer to Ipswich Town, Kelechi Iheanacho’s move to Bursaspor, and the conclusion of several high‑profile loan agreements.
To offset the outflow, the club has added two forwards: Camilo Duran and Kasper Høgh, the latter arriving for a club‑record fee. O'Neill stressed that limiting further exits is essential as the team prepares 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," he admitted.
He added that the club had intended to build a cohesive squad and retain the players it had brought in, but the reality of modern football makes that aspiration difficult. "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 said he was uncertain whether Engels or Johnston would be available for Celtic’s opening Scottish Premiership fixture against Dundee, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Celtic traditionally operated in a 4‑3‑3 or 4‑4‑2 formation last season, leaving space for only a single central striker. With the summer signings of both Høgh and Duran, O'Neill expressed confidence that he can accommodate both forwards simultaneously. "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 the Celtic storyline, Sky Sports News correspondents Sahil Jaidka and Anthony Joseph reported that both Celtic and Rangers are monitoring Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis. The 23‑year‑old Algerian international, who helped his Italian side secure promotion to Serie A with 15 goals and three assists last season, was close to joining Celtic in January. Now Rangers have entered the race, and the player is also attracting interest from clubs in Italy, England and the United States. Rangers, who lost winger Oliver Antman, are actively seeking two new wide players.
Coventry City’s Jahnoah Markelo has been identified as a potential target, while Brighton’s Amario Cozier‑Duberry and former Ibrox loanee Vaclav Cerny have also been linked with moves to the Scottish giants. Cerny’s wage demands at Besiktas could pose a hurdle, however.
Overall, the Scottish summer transfer market remains highly fluid. O'Neill’s primary objective is to keep his core group intact while integrating the new signings in a way that preserves the team’s competitive edge. Balancing financial realities, player ambitions, and the club’s desire to retain talent will be a delicate task as the season approaches.
The upcoming matches, especially the opening league game against Dundee, will provide early indicators of how well the new arrivals have settled and whether the squad can maintain the momentum that secured them the title last season.