Martin O'Neill has expressed his hope that Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston will remain with Celtic as the club prepares for crucial Champions League qualifiers later this month. The manager's remarks followed Celtic's 1-0 victory over Dundee FC in their opening match of the Scottish Premiership season, where Benjamin Nygren scored the decisive goal in the 52nd minute.

Key Players Linked with Moves

Both Engels and Johnston played the full match at Celtic Park, despite ongoing transfer speculation surrounding their futures. O'Neill revealed that Everton had shown interest in Johnston, although their approach was reportedly turned down. Meanwhile, Engels has attracted attention from Championship side West Ham. As Celtic gears up to face Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-off round, O'Neill is keen to retain both players for the important two-legged tie.

O'Neill's Confidence in His Squad

O'Neill noted that both players had expressed their desire to participate in the upcoming matches, stating, "Alistair and Arne both said to me that they would want to play in the game if things had not progressed." He acknowledged the psychological impact of transfer rumors but praised their performances, especially Johnston's adaptability when he shifted to left-back after Kieran's substitution. O'Neill added, "Would I like to keep them for the play-off? Ideally, that would be brilliant."

As Celtic prepares for their next match against Kilmarnock, O'Neill remains focused on the Champions League qualifiers, emphasizing the importance of having his key players available. The manager's commitment to maintaining a strong squad reflects his ambitions for the upcoming season.