Martin O’Neill has revealed that Celtic’s own board rejected a “really tempting” offer of up to £25m for Arne Engels after admitting he held talks with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of contract.
Club Parkhead has signed a contract with the 24-year-old striker from Austria Junior to Adam from Bundesliga side Freiburg, 20-year-old center half of Brentford Benjamin Arthur and the 23-year-old winger from Lorient Joel Wake upall on loan and all on the day of the transfer deadline.
Meanwhile, the Celtic board, subject to constant and harsh criticism from a significant section of fans about his leadership, rejected three offers for 22-year-old Belgian midfielder Engels.
Sky Sports News have confirmed that Premier League club Nottingham Forest want to pay a guaranteed fee of £20m with £5m in add-ons.
Speaking before the second-placed Hoops travel to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night, live on Ski SportsO’Neill said: “This is an awful lot of money. It’s an awful lot of money.
“Personally, I’m delighted that the board turned it down. It’s really tempting and it came at a very, very late stage, I have to admit. It’s a great credit to them.”
Wednesday, February 4, 7:00 p.m
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“He didn’t make a fuss about it either, even though it was late.”
“And of course, it’s tempting, there’s really big money here.”
“But they (the board) didn’t take the bait, so of course I’m pleased and we can look at things in the summer.”
“Obviously life changes, but that was the main statement.”
Engels was the subject of a failed bid from Nottingham Forest
Asked if the board had spoken to him about the Engels offer, the Northern Irishman said: “No, absolutely not. Not at all.
“No, they turned it down before they told me. I was asked the question on Sunday (about the first offer after Falkirk).
game). I honestly didn’t know anything about it.
“But I think the offer came from Nottingham Forest, Michael (Nicholson, the chairman) told me, I think it came around 4.55pm.
“Honestly, I really didn’t know anything about it, just in case you thought I was telling a lot of lies.”
O’Neill is interested in Oklade-Chamberlain after talks
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O’Neill confirmed he has spoken to former Arsenal and Liverpool player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is a free agent
Despite the Scottish transfer window closing at 11pm on Monday night, players who are free agents can still be signed.
O’Neill has been open about his interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain, the 32-year-old former Arsenal and Liverpool striker whose last club was Besiktas in Turkey, whom he left last summer.
Asked if he liked the 35-time England cap, the Celtic manager said: “Yes. Honestly yes. Yes. He has been training at Arsenal for a while since his time in Turkey.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training for former club Arsenal since leaving Turkey
“I’ve spoken to him but I’m sure he’ll have plenty of options, maybe even closer to London. But he’s been very nice, I have to admit.
“I would be very interested in doing that but I’m surprised people haven’t taken him closer to the area and he tells me he’s been training with Arsenal for a long time.”
“And so fitness-wise, it’s not up to fitness, but that’s fine. We’ll see. And listen, he’s got a lot of options.
“I think he was very excited about what we were talking about. He knows about the football club. He’s a great friend of Joe Hart and Joe spoke to him. Not on our behalf. It was just a conversation with Joe. But listen, it’s OK.
“It’s something that would be interesting, but if it doesn’t happen, it won’t happen.”