Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has expressed disappointment over the departure of Arne Engels to West Ham. Despite rejecting a £25m bid from Nottingham Forest earlier in the winter, the Belgium international was keen for a move to English football. O'Neill noted that while he would have preferred Engels to stay until after the Champions League play-off against LASK, the player's desire to move made the decision difficult.

Compounding the squad changes is an injury to Canada right-back Alistair Johnston, who suffered a leg muscle injury during a recent win against Kilmarnock. O'Neill expects him to be sidelined for a few weeks, meaning he will miss the upcoming transfer deadline.

To bolster the squad, Celtic have already signed Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur. O'Neill also hinted at further arrivals, including potential loan move for Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo to provide cover for Kieran Tierney. The manager expects the recruitment process to continue as the club manages its squad depth and injury concerns.