Celtic are now reportedly open to selling one of their top stars in the summer, going against the wishes of manager Martin O’Neill.
Celtic set to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain
As rumours emerge about one star player, another is reportedly on his way to sign for Celtic. According to recent reports, the Bhoys are set to welcome free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain four months on from his Besiktas departure.
Anthony Joseph drops major update on Celtic talks to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The Bhoys are closing in…
The former Liverpool and Arsenal man has won it all in English football and is now set to join up with O’Neill’s side in a bid to complete a sensational comeback in the Scottish Premiership.
O’Neill confirmed the news of the midfielder’s imminent arrival, revealing that he’s due to undergo a medical before officially signing on the dotted line.
“I spoke to him this morning (Friday). I think he wants to come and and I think he’s coming. I would have assumed he’s gotten a number of options.
“I think there was even talk about Arsenal, where he is training, might take him on because they might pick up a couple of injuries, so I’m delighted that he’s going to come, so he says. So I think he’s doing a medical tomorrow and all being well, I’m hoping that he signs on.”
Just how ready Oxlade-Chamberlain is to make an instant impact is the big question. He hasn’t played since leaving Turkey in the summer, but has been training with Premier League leaders and champions-elect Arsenal in recent months.
There were reports that Celtic could turn towards Tiemoue Bakayoko instead, given that the former Chelsea man is also a free agent, but Oxlade-Chamberlain always seemed to be O’Neill’s man.
Amongst all the positives, however, there could yet be some bad news for the veteran manager, who could still lose a player that he’s desperate to keep in the summer.
Celtic open to Arne Engels sale despite O’Neill desperation
According to Football Insider, Celtic are now open to selling Arne Engels in the summer if clubs like Nottingham Forest return with an offer similar to their £25m bid on deadline-day.
O’Neill was delighted with the club when they knocked back what would have been a record sale late in the window, but may have just seen the inevitable delayed.
|
Rank |
Player |
Fee |
Sold to |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
=1 |
Matt O’Riley |
£25m |
Brighton |
2024 |
|
=1 |
Jota |
£25m |
Al-Ittihad |
2023 |
|
=1 |
Kieran Tierney |
£25m |
Arsenal |
2019 |
|
4 |
Moussa Dembele |
£19.7m |
Lyon |
2018 |
|
5 |
Nicolas Kuhn |
£16.5m |
Como |
2025 |
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke said: “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.”
