Celtic turn down Forest’s £17m bid for Engels

Celtic have rejected a bid of about £17m from Nottingham Forest for Belgium midfielder Arne Engels.

Forest failed with an initial £14m offer for the 22-year-old and then had a second bid of £17m also turned down.

Engels joined Celtic for £11m from German club Augsburg in August 2024.

He has played 89 times in all competitions for the Glasgow club and helped them win the Scottish Premiership and League Cup last season.

“Honestly, I am telling you, I didn’t know anything about it,” said interim manager Martin O’Neill when asked about Forest’s bid following Celtic’s 2-0 win over Falkirk on Sunday.

“If they have, then they must have done it during the game. And I would want it rebuffed, unless it was £100m.

“Then I think the board would step in there. No, absolutely, I would rather keep him.”

Both Celtic, who O’Neill says are close to making two signings, and Forest are in the Europa League play-offs that take place this month.