Arne Engels edges closer to Celtic exit as official offer received - journalist

Arne Engels is reportedly close to leaving Celtic with Nottingham Forest leading the charge ahead of Sunderland and Fulham.

The 22-year-old was subject to a £25million bid in January from Forest, which was rejected by the Hoops.

The Premier League side have now returned with renewed hopes of completing a deal, however, with Elliot Anderson having completed his £116m move to Manchester City.

Engels is under contract until 2028 at Celtic Park, and there is an acknowledgement that the Scottish champions will not stand in his way this summer.

Sources have told Football Insider that Celtic will entertain bids at the right price for the Belgium international, who spent much of the final part of the season out injured.

Engels returned in April and played a key part in the Hoops' double, scoring goals in games against Hearts and Dunfermline Athletic.

Nottingham Forest close in on Arne Engels

Engels joined Celtic from Augsburg in 2024, signing in a deal worth a club-record £11m.

The midfielder had made his Bundesliga breakthrough and was seen as a significant coup for the Hoops.

Immediately, his quality was apparent. Engels scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists across all competitions in his opening season in Scotland, putting teams across Europe on notice.

Celtic would have expected a move was imminent for the 22-year-old as he continued to thrive, but they were prepared to wait when they received Nottingham Forest's £25m offer in January.

According to Belgian outlet Voetbalkrant, that move may finally be close to happening. "An agreement is expected to be reached in the coming week," Johan Walckiers reports.

Nottingham Forest are leading the charge, with a first official offer already sent. Tottenham, Fulham, Roma and Atletico Madrid are among the clubs tracking the situation, with the Italians also planning to bid.

A deal is expected to reach its conclusion next week, with Engels set to leave Celtic for a new opportunity.

'World-class' Engels bound for Premier League

Speaking about Engels in October, Brendan Rodgers said: "Arne I thought was outstanding in the game.

"Coming back in, he gave us that energy and that fight. And his set-piece quality really is world class."

The Premier League will be a different and harsher test for the Belgian, who will be pushed to his physical best.

Nottingham Forest clearly believe that Engels is capable, however, with the 22-year-old facing the huge task of filling an Anderson-sized hole.