Sources: Nottingham Forest to blame for Arne Engels collapse, new Celtic details emerge
Nottingham Forest were to blame for missing out on a deal for Celtic star Arne Engels despite pushing to sign him on transfer deadline day.
Forest made three bids for the 22-year-old on deadline day, the largest of which would have equalled the Scottish record £25million sale.
However, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Celtic would have been prepared to sell earlier in the transfer window.
A £25million fee would have allowed them to reinvest in the squad and bring in a replacement if it had arrived towards the start of the window.
Instead, Martin O’Neill‘s side ultimately pushed back Forest’s advances and kept hold of the midfielder as they were left with no time to plan for his absence.
Celtic ‘would have sold’ Arne Engels on one condition
Football Insider revealed last month that Celtic would not accept offers for Engels as he remains a big part of O’Neill’s plans for the rest of the season.
The significant £25million offer could have changed their stance, though, had they been given time to source a replacement before the deadline.
Ultimately, it was Forest’s timing which saw them miss out on a player who was one of their top midfield targets on the final day of the window.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “Yeah, think if Celtic had a bit more time to find a replacement for Engels, they probably would have sold him to Nottingham Forest.
“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.
“If something like that was to return in the summer, I’m sure it’s definitely something Celtic would look at.
“I don’t think it’ll get anywhere near what Forrest offered in January because they were desperate for a midfielder as well.”
Could Engels leave Celtic in the summer?
Despite turning down late offers in January, Celtic may struggle to keep hold of the midfielder beyond the end of the current season.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on 5 February that Engels could quit Celtic in the summer if Forest or another Premier League club make a move.
Forest remain very keen on Engels and are set to keep tabs on his progress as O’Neill’s side hunt the Scottish Premiership title.
Should they return with an offer of similar or even increased value come the end of the season, Celtic may have no choice but to let him move on.
Regardless of whether they achieve their aim of pipping Hearts and Rangers to the league title, it could be difficult to keep hold of the midfielder.
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