Arne Engels has ignited fresh speculation over his Celtic future after delivering a candid update in a Sky Sports interview — and it’s a development that has reportedly caught Rangers fans off guard.
The Belgian midfielder was the subject of three January bids from Nottingham Forest, with the final offer worth £25m rejected on deadline day. At the time, Celtic stood firm, determined to keep their squad intact for the second half of a challenging campaign.
However, behind the scenes, the situation appears far from settled.
Engels is believed to be frustrated after seeing a potential Premier League switch blocked, and sources claim he could now consider pushing for an exit in the summer should a similar offer return.
Celtic have endured an inconsistent season and currently sit third in the table, six points adrift of leaders Hearts — albeit with a game in hand. With Martin O’Neill guiding the side through a crucial title run-in, the club made the call in January to resist interest in key figures, including Engels.
But while the Hoops successfully fended off approaches mid-season, the summer could present a very different picture.
Celtic’s stance shifting?
According to Football Insider, Celtic may now be prepared to cash in on Engels if Nottingham Forest — or another Premier League side — tables a bid in the region of £25m once the campaign concludes.
The decision to reject Forest’s record-equalling proposal was applauded internally at the time, particularly by O’Neill, who was keen to retain one of his regular starters. Yet reports suggest that stance may soften when the transfer window reopens.
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke explained:
“It was a huge offer from Forest, that third bid was around £25 million, and in normal circumstances, if Celtic had time to bring in a replacement, they would have taken that money.
“Due to their current situation where the squad is a bit thin and they’re in a fight to retain the Scottish Premiership title with Hearts and Rangers, it meant Martin O’Neill couldn’t afford to let Arne Engels go. He was desperate to keep him, and that’s why that big-money offer was turned down.”
With Engels now publicly addressing his ambitions and Celtic reportedly open to revisiting the situation, this transfer saga looks far from over — and it could have major implications for the title race and beyond.