Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has made it clear that he does not want to see any further members of his squad depart during the upcoming summer transfer period, especially as rumors swirl around midfield talent 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 for the player.
O'Neill confirmed that a bid had indeed been tabled, but he dismissed it as falling "remotely short" of the club's valuation, indicating that the English side would need to substantially improve its offer if it hopes to secure Engels' signature. At the same time, interest in right‑back Alistair Johnston has been on the rise following his standout performances for Canada at the recent World Cup. O'Neill disclosed that he has been in contact with Everton manager David Moyes regarding a possible transfer 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 outgoing moves. Fourteen players have already left the club, including Daizen Maeda's move to Ipswich Town, Kelechi Iheanacho's switch to Bursaspor, and the conclusion of several high‑profile loan agreements.
To offset these departures, the Hoops have added two forwards to their roster: Camilo Duran and Kasper Høgh, the latter arriving for a club‑record fee. The influx of new talent is intended to bolster a squad that will soon defend its Scottish Premiership crown. O'Neill stressed that retaining his core group is a priority as the new campaign approaches. "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 aimed to build a stronger side and hoped the new signings would stay, while also acknowledging the difficulty of keeping everyone when players perform well on the international stage.
"Alistair did excellent work with Canada and that enhanced his chances," O'Neill noted, highlighting how international exposure can raise a player's market value. Balancing the need to bring in fresh faces with the desire to hold onto existing talent, O'Neill described the ideal scenario as "utopia"—a perfect equilibrium that rarely exists in real life. He also expressed uncertainty about whether Engels or Johnston would be available for Celtic's opening Scottish Premiership match against Dundee on Monday, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Tactically, Celtic have traditionally operated in either a 4‑3‑3 or a 4‑4‑2 formation, which historically limited the number of central strikers to just one. With the summer signings of both Høgh and Duran, O'Neill is confident that he can devise a system that accommodates both forwards without compromising the team's shape. "I would think that given the time that the two players should be able to play together without a problem," he said. He admitted that this might require adjustments to the team's formation, but emphasized that both players are versatile and capable.
"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, other Scottish clubs are also active in the market.
Sky Sports News 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, attracted interest from clubs in Italy, England and the United States. Rangers, looking to replace departing winger Oliver Antman, have listed Ghedjemis among their targets, while also scouting Coventry City’s Jahnoah Markelo.
Additionally, Brighton’s Amario Cozier‑Duberry and former Ibrox loanee Vaclav Cerny have been linked with moves to Scotland, though Cerny's wage demands at Besiktas could pose a hurdle. Overall, the summer transfer window presents a complex puzzle for O'Neill and his staff. They must navigate external interest in their standout performers, integrate new signings into the squad, and maintain the competitive edge required to defend the league title. While the market dynamics make it challenging to retain every prized player, O'Neill's pragmatic approach—balancing ambition with realism—aims to keep Celtic competitive on both domestic and European fronts.
The upcoming season will test the manager's ability to blend experience, youthful vigor, and tactical flexibility as the club strives to sustain its recent success.