ARNE ENGELS is edging closer to a multi-million pound exit from Celtic as transfer interest in the Belgian midfielder intensifies.
The 22-year-old £11million arrival from Bundesliga club Augsburg in August 2024 has moved to the top of the West Ham wanted list.
The Londoners have already started a squad revamp after last season’s relegation from the Premier League and are now in talks with the Hoops over the smooth operator, according to Sky Sports News.
Nottingham Forest, who failed in multiple bids of over £20million for Engels on January deadline day, Fulham and Sunderland have also been linked with the playmaker.
Serie A outfits AC Milan, who got a close-up view of Engels during his 76 minutes on the pitch during the 2-2 draw at the weekend, Lazio and Roma are also reported to be monitoring his situation.
THE LAST HURRAH…Arne Engels accepts the cheers of the fans after netting the second goal in Celtic’s 3-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Dunfermline on May 23.
The club’s former record buy, eclipsed by the arrival of Danish striker Kasper Hogh this week, missed seven consecutive games with a thigh injury after the turn of the year, but came back strongly to play his part in the team’s remarkable league and Cup double success.
He netted a crucial penalty-kick in the 3-1 title-deciding victory over Hearts at Parkhead and, a week later, thumped in the second goal in Martin O’Neill’s side’s 3-1 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline at Hampden.
That strike is likely to be the player’s parting shot for the Hoops.
Coincidentally, Daizen Maeda netted the opener in the showpiece occasion and that proved to be his farewell goal to the club before he sealed his £10million move to Ipswich Town a week ago.
And, of course, Kelechi Iheanacho, who netted No.3, has already joined Turkish club Bursaspor.
Engels has made 98 appearances for Scotland’s title kings, scoring 17 goals and providing 21 assists.
He still has two years to run on his contract and Celtic will be looking for a fee of £25million if anyone attempts to prise him away from Parkhead.
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