Nottingham Forest submit bid for Celtic star Arne Engels

Nottingham Forest have stepped up their pursuit of Arne Engels after submitting a formal offer for the Celtic midfielder, although the Premier League club still face stiff competition for one of Scotland's brightest young talents.

Forest have admired the Belgium international since January, when an initial approach failed to convince Celtic to sell. Now they've returned with a concrete proposal as they look to win the race before rival clubs make their move.

Engels has been high on Forest's shortlist for months and the club have now backed up that interest with an official offer.

The 22-year-old is viewed as the leading candidate to replace Elliot Anderson, making him one of Forest's priority targets this summer.

Celtic have yet to accept the proposal and details of the bid have not been disclosed, but negotiations are now underway between the two clubs.

With two years remaining on his contract at Celtic Park, the Scottish champions remain in a strong position and are under no pressure to sell unless their valuation is met.

While Forest have stolen an early march, the deal is far from done.

Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham continue to monitor Engels' situation closely and are both waiting to see how talks between Forest and Celtic develop. Neither club has submitted an offer at this stage, but both remain interested should negotiations stall.

The race also extends beyond England.

Atlético Madrid, Roma and Villarreal have all been credited with interest, meaning Celtic could have several options if more clubs decide to formalise their interest over the coming days.

Engels has quickly established himself as one of Celtic's standout performers since arriving from Augsburg in 2024.

Comfortable as a deep-lying playmaker or in a more advanced midfield role, the Belgian combines technical quality with an impressive work rate, making him an attractive option for clubs looking to strengthen in the middle of the pitch.

At just 22, he also fits the recruitment profile increasingly favoured by Premier League clubs—young enough to develop further but already experienced in European football.

Forest will now wait to see whether Celtic are prepared to negotiate or hold firm on their valuation. The lack of an agreement leaves the door open for Tottenham, Fulham or one of Engels' other admirers to enter the race, making the coming days potentially decisive in the midfielder's future.

Could Arne Engels be the midfield signing Nottingham Forest need, or would he be a better fit at Tottenham or Fulham?