Just a year after his record-breaking move to Celtic, Arne Engels is already being linked with a potential exit.
The 21-year-old midfielder has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A side Atalanta, who are said to be considering a serious move for the Belgian this summer.
While Engels himself has batted away speculation and maintained his focus on finishing the season strong and winning a treble, there’s growing belief that a big-money bid could force Celtic’s hand. The Italian outfit tracked talent in Glasgow’s east end, previously monitoring Matt O’Riley before his switch to Brighton – Engels now appears to be the latest Parkhead standout on their radar.
The Hoops splashed out £ 11 million to land Engels last summer, and the player has gone on to play a central role in Brendan Rodgers’ midfield. However, the club’s business model has always included the potential for high-value sales if the right offer lands. There’s an understanding that while Celtic are in no rush to sell, they would be willing to negotiate if guarantees are put on the table rather than a deal reliant on performance-based add-ons, as was the case with Matt O’Riley last year. [RecordSport]
Celtic are expected to strengthen in several areas this summer, and while keeping key players is always a priority, a sizeable bid for Engels may give the club the resources to refresh multiple areas of the squad.
With interest mounting, this could be a summer where decisions at the top level shape the next phase of Brendan Rodgers’ squad rebuild.
