O’Neill Pursues Oxlade-Chamberlain Following Productive Talks

In a series of significant developments, Martin O’Neill confirmed that Celtic rejected a lucrative bid of up to £25 million for midfielder Arne Engels. The bid, made by Nottingham Forest, comprised £20 million guaranteed with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons. Despite the tempting nature of the offer, O’Neill expressed delight at the board’s decision to turn it down.

Transfer Decisions and New Signings

The decision to dismiss Nottingham Forest’s offer comes amid ongoing criticism aimed at the Celtic board from a faction of its supporters. In a late transfer window move, Celtic secured three players on loan. These include:

• Junior Adamu, a 24-year-old striker from Bundesliga club Freiburg.
• Benjamin Arthur, a 20-year-old center-half from Brentford.
• Joel Mvuka, a 23-year-old winger from Lorient.

These signings were finalized on transfer deadline day, which saw considerable activity in the Scottish Premiership.

Engels Bid Rejected

O’Neill outlined his surprise at the timing of the Nottingham Forest bid. He stated that he was unaware of the offer until after a recent match and praised the board for prioritizing the club’s interests. “It’s an awful lot of money for here,” he said, acknowledging the financial implications of the situation.

Interest in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

O’Neill also revealed that he has been in discussions with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a 32-year-old free agent and former player for Arsenal and Liverpool. Following his departure from Besiktas in Turkey, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training at Arsenal.

Regarding his interest in the former England international, O’Neill commented, “I genuinely do.” He acknowledged that while Celtic would like to sign him, Oxlade-Chamberlain may have other options closer to London. His relationship with Joe Hart, a current Celtic player, might play a role in the discussions.

Future Prospects

As the transfer window has closed, O’Neill remains optimistic about future possibilities. He believes that discussions with Oxlade-Chamberlain are promising despite the competition for his signature.

Currently, O’Neill is focused on the upcoming Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen, where he hopes to continue building on the club’s successes amid a period of transition.