Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has confirmed that the club turned down a bid from West Ham United for midfielder Arne Engels, while Everton have made contact over Canada right-back Alastair Johnston.

O'Neill was blunt in his assessment of the West Ham approach for Engels, stating that the offer "hasn't remotely made our valuation." The 22-year-old Belgium international joined Celtic Park from Augsburg in August 2024, and Nottingham Forest had also attempted — unsuccessfully — to sign him during the January transfer window.

Moyes called O'Neill directly

On the interest in Johnston, O'Neill revealed that Everton manager David Moyes telephoned him personally last week to flag the club's intention to make a formal approach. "Everton have been in contact," O'Neill said. "I'm not sure whether there's been a bid in there for that one, but they've been in contact saying that there would be."

Johnston, 27, signed for Celtic from Montreal in January 2023 and featured in all five of Canada's matches at the World Cup.

O'Neill vows to fight to keep both players

The Celtic manager described the external interest in both players as "disappointing" but acknowledged it was "to be expected," adding that it is "difficult to stop people if their ambition is to play in a big, big league."

O'Neill, 74, made clear that the club would exhaust every option before considering a sale. "Our job is to try and keep them, try and do our best to keep them," he said. "If that's not possible, naturally we'll have to try and get replacements in. To replace those players would be a difficult task."