Belgian Media Link More Clubs With Engels Move

Interest in Arne Engels appears to be gathering real momentum, with Belgian outlet Voetbal Krant reporting that Nottingham Forest have now submitted their first official bid for the Celtic midfielder. The same report also claims that Roma are preparing an offer of their own, while Villarreal have entered the race for the 22-year-old.

Whether those reported bids develop into formal negotiations remains to be seen, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Engels is attracting serious attention across Europe.

That should concern every Celtic supporter.

It’s not simply because Engels is an outstanding young talent. It’s because of the wider picture at Celtic. The midfield already faces uncertainty, with Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, Benjamin Nygren and Paulo Bernardo all having been linked with moves at various points this summer. If Engels were added to that list of departures, Celtic’s engine room could look dramatically different just weeks before the new season begins.

Personally, I’ve already resigned myself to losing Arne Engels. I think it would be a huge loss for Celtic. We saw just how important he became after returning from injury towards the end of last season. His composure, energy and quality in possession helped Celtic over the line during the run-in when the pressure was at its greatest. Those performances showed exactly why clubs from England, Italy and Spain are now circling.

The question Celtic must answer is whether selling another key player now is worth the financial return.

Supporters have watched this cycle too many times. A major player leaves, replacements arrive late, pre-season preparation suffers and valuable weeks are lost while the squad tries to rebuild.

If the Belgian reports prove accurate and interest continues to intensify, Celtic must have a plan in place. Losing top players is part of modern football, but failing to prepare for their departure is not.

This transfer window has already raised serious questions about recruitment and forward planning. Selling Arne Engels without an immediate, high-quality replacement would only make those questions louder.