Martin O’Neill revealed the Celtic board alone turned down the “really tempting” bid of as much as £25m for Arne Engels, as he admitted talking to out-of-contract Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The Parkhead membership signed 24-year-old Austria striker Junior Adamu from Bundesliga membership Freiburg, 20-year-old Brentford centre-half Benjamin Arthur and 23-year-old Lorient winger Joel Mvuka, all on mortgage and all on switch deadline day.
In the meantime, the Celtic board, topic to ongoing and scathing criticism from a major part of the followers about its management, rejected three bids for 22-year-old Belgium midfielder Engels.
Sky Sports activities Information confirmed Premier League membership Nottingham Forest needed to pay a assured charge of £20m with £5m in add-ons.
Talking earlier than the second-placed Hoops journey to Aberdeen within the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday evening, dwell on Sky Sports activities, O’Neill stated: “For right here that is an terrible lot of cash. It is an terrible lot of cash.
“Personally, I am delighted that the board turned it down. It is actually tempting and it is come at a really, very late stage, I need to admit. So actual nice credit score to them.
Wednesday 4th February 7:00pm
Kick off 8:00pm
“He did not kick up a fuss about it both, although it is are available late.
“And of course, it’s tempting, it’s really big money for here.
“However they [board] did not take the bait, and so naturally I am actually happy and we are able to have a look at issues in the summertime time.
“Obviously life changes but that was a major statement.”
Engels was the topic of a failed bid from Nottingham Forest
Requested if the board spoke to him in regards to the Engels supply, the Northern Irishman stated: “No, absolutely not. Not at all.
“No, they turned it down earlier than telling me. I used to be requested the query on Sunday [about the first bid after the Falkirk
game]. I genuinely did not know something about it.
“But I think that the offer had come in from Nottingham Forest, Michael (Nicholson, chairman) was telling me, I think, it came in about 4.55pm.
“Truthfully, I genuinely did not know something about it, simply in case you thought I used to be telling numerous fibs.”
O’Neill eager on Oxlade-Chamberlain after talks
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
O’Neill confirms he has held talks with former Arsenal and Liverpool participant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who’s a free agent
Regardless of the switch window in Scotland closing at 11pm on Monday evening, gamers who’re free brokers can nonetheless be signed.
O’Neill was open about his curiosity in Oxlade-Chamberlain, the 32-year-old former Arsenal and Liverpool ahead whose final membership was Besiktas in Turkey, whom he left final summer time.
Requested if the 35-times capped England participant was somebody he preferred, the Celtic boss stated: “I do. I genuinely do. Yes. He has trained at Arsenal for some time since his time in Turkey.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been coaching with former membership Arsenal since leaving Turkey
“Spoke to him but I’m sure he’ll have lots of options maybe closer to London as well too. But he was very affable, I must admit.
“I might be very all in favour of doing it, however I am shocked that folks have not taken him nearer to the world and he is telling me he is coaching with Arsenal for fairly some appreciable time.
“And so in terms of fitness, it’s not match fitness, but it’s fine. We’ll see. And listen, he’s got loads of options.
“I feel he was very enthusiastic about what we have been saying. He is aware of in regards to the soccer membership. He is a giant buddy of Joe Hart and Joe’s spoken to him. Not on our behalf. It was only a dialog with Joe. However hear, it is wonderful.
“It is something that would be interesting but if it doesn’t materialise, it doesn’t materialise.”
