O'Neill keen to avoid losing more stars as interest ramps up

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has expressed his determination to keep his squad intact this summer, with the Scottish Premiership champions facing potential departures of key defenders Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston. Engels, the Belgian centre-back signed from Augusburg in 2023, has attracted significant attention following his impressive performances in Celtic's title-winning campaign, while Canadian international Johnston continues to draw interest from clubs across Europe. O'Neill's stance reflects the club's ambition to maintain the squad depth that secured their 57th Scottish league title and maintained their unbeaten domestic record in recent competitions.

The Celtic boss faces a challenging balancing act as his players gain prominence on the continental stage through European competition. Engels has established himself as a cornerstone of Celtic's defensive structure since his arrival, appearing in over 60 matches for the Glasgow outfit and contributing to their defensive solidity in both domestic and European fixtures. Johnston, recruited from Toronto FC in 2022, has developed into a reliable presence at right-back with 70+ appearances for the club, becoming integral to O'Neill's tactical setup. The potential loss of either player would significantly impact Celtic's ability to compete simultaneously in the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Champions League qualification.

Celtic's retention efforts will prove critical as the club pursues domestic dominance and European advancement in the coming season. The club previously navigated similar situations, including the departures of high-profile talents to bigger leagues, which temporarily disrupted their momentum. O'Neill's public commitment to keeping Engels and Johnston signals the club's confidence in their competitive standing and financial capacity to offer competitive salaries. Celtic supporters will closely monitor transfer developments, knowing that maintaining squad cohesion remains fundamental to challenging for trophies across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign.