Nottingham Forest Lodge Formal Arne Engels Bid as Celtic Hold Firm

Nottingham Forest have reportedly made the first concrete move for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels by submitting a formal offer for the Belgian.

The Premier League side are said to be pushing to strengthen their midfield this summer, but they’re not alone. Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham have also been credited with an interest as Engels’ stock continues to rise after an impressive debut campaign in the Hoops.

It’s hardly a surprise.

Since arriving at Parkhead, Engels has quickly established himself as one of Celtic’s most influential players. His composure on the ball, eye for a pass and tireless work rate have made him a standout performer, and it’s exactly the sort of form that attracts attention from England.

The key point for Celtic supporters, though, is that the club are in control.

Martin O’Neill has made Engels a central figure in his plans, and there’s no obvious reason for Celtic to entertain offers unless they receive a fee that reflects both his ability and his importance to the side.

Forest may have tested the water with an opening bid, but it’s difficult to imagine Celtic accepting anything close to their first offer.

The Scottish champions are in a strong financial position, Champions League football remains a huge attraction, and there’s no pressure to sell one of the club’s biggest assets.

Supporters have seen this story before. As soon as a Celtic player begins producing consistently high-level performances, Premier League clubs start circling.

That doesn’t mean a transfer is inevitable.

If anything, the reported interest is another indication of the quality currently in O’Neill’s squad. Engels is still only 21 and looks capable of getting even better in the years ahead. Selling him now would leave a massive hole in Celtic’s midfield unless an extraordinary offer arrived.

For now, there appears to be little cause for concern.

Forest may have made the first move, but Celtic hold all the cards. Unless the Premier League side return with a significantly improved offer, the expectation will be that Engels remains at Parkhead and continues to play a major role as O’Neill’s side chase more domestic success and look to make another statement in Europe.

As things stand, Celtic supporters will be hoping this is just another transfer rumour that fades away as quickly as it gathered pace.