Celtic's Arne Engels could be the subject of another bid as Nottingham Forest are reportedly weighing up an offer worth £25 million.
Forest have had two bids rejected thus far, with Celtic throwing out their opener of £14 million. Their second bid, worth £17.3 million, was also denied.
Although it has been said that Celtic told Forest that Arne Engels isn't for sale this window, Sean Dyche's side is ready for a final bid to be made. They hope that an even bigger number would be able to tempt the Scottish side.
Engels joined Celtic for £11 million in August 2024 from Bundesliga club Augsburg. Since joining, he has featured 89 times in all competitions and has two trophies under his belt already.
It's safe to assume that Forest's third bid would be rejected as well. Manager Martin O'Neill has made it clear that he does not want to lose Engels at such a pivotal point in the campaign, joking after the Falkirk game that he values Engels in the £100 million region.
Fans are split
Opinion is split in the Celtic fanbase after news broke of both offers. Some say that the Hoops should be "biting the hand off" anyone willing to pay this much for Engels, while others believe that it is crucial to keep the midfielder if we want any chance of salvaging the title.
The Belgian has received a lot of criticism since joining the club, with a vocal group believing that he hasn't hit the heights expected of him. It's undeniable that he has had some standout performances in a Celtic shirt though, including in the Europa League campaign this season.
At only 22 years old, he has plenty of potential and has blossomed under O'Neill. He would be a great asset to keep at the club, and Celtic seem confident that they won't be forced into a move this window.
The Hoops could look to sell in the summer though. With there being clear interest in the player, offers could be received that would be too good to turn down. With a new manager set to come before the start of next season, they may fancy sending Engels away, especially for a good transfer fee.
It is widely believed that the club are trying to keep as many players on the books as possible to give the next head coach lots to work with. Whoever comes in will have the chance to build their style in pre-season, and having lots of options could be helpful in doing that.