Ne4 would establish an outpost that is heavily defended. This would give some extra protection to C3 and prevent the attack. However, it does restrict black's queen and light square bishop. Since there isn't any obvious moves for these pieces at the moment it could possibly create a nice discovery tactic later in the game.
The Process of Decision Making in Chess Volume 2: Practice positions and solutions. Position 11.3
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c4 avoid horse d5
So Bc4? or just pawn? I'm not sure I like blocking in pieces.
I thought c4 also, but after c4... Nc3 and the b2 bishop is doomed still. With the fork on the rook and the queen? Ne4 doesn't work, you just lose a the rook on e1. How about Bh7?
Solve the challenge below:
Diagram 11.3- positional observation shows that white has a weak c3 square; it’s currently contested, but black has an easy way of not only fighting for it but possibly occupying it in the near future: …Nd5! and later possibly …Nc3 to force white to give up his strong b2 bishop.
Challenge: after the suggested Nd5, is there a way for white to deal with black’s plan?