Celtic reject West Ham Engels bid and confirm Johnston interest

Celtic have decisively rejected West Ham United's approach for midfielder Arne Engels, with manager Martin O'Neill confirming the club's resolve to retain the Belgian talent. Engels, who joined Celtic from Auditoire in summer 2024, has quickly established himself as a key component in the Scottish Premiership side's midfield operations. The 20-year-old's performances have caught the attention of several Premier League clubs, but Celtic's hierarchy remains committed to building their squad around the promising prospect as they continue their domestic campaign.

Meanwhile, Everton's interest in defender Alistair Johnston represents another instance of English top-flight clubs targeting Celtic's star performers. Johnston, the Canadian international who transferred to Celtic in 2022, has become one of the Premiership's most consistent right-backs, featuring prominently in the club's recent league challenges. With Celtic currently competing across multiple competitions including the Scottish Cup and European fixtures, losing key personnel would significantly impact their ability to challenge rivals Rangers and maintain their pursuit of domestic silverware throughout the remainder of the season.

O'Neill's public stance on both transfer situations underscores Celtic's ambitions to strengthen their challenge in the coming months rather than weaken their squad depth. The Parkhead club has invested substantially in Engels and Johnston, viewing both players as integral components of their long-term project. As the January transfer window progresses, Celtic face mounting pressure to defend their assets while managing the ambitions of rival clubs, with their resolve likely to be tested further by Premier League suitors seeking to bolster their own squads ahead of the crucial second half of the campaign.