Contact has been established for Celtic player in recent days; €25m might be enough to secure the Hoops.

Roma begin exploring a move

Celtic midfielder Arne Engels continues to attract attention from clubs across Europe, and fresh reports suggest the first steps toward a possible transfer may already have been taken.

The Belgian international has enjoyed two full seasons at Celtic Park, establishing himself as an important member of the squad while gaining valuable experience in European competition. Those opportunities were not available during his previous spell with Augsburg, the Bundesliga club that sold him to Celtic in 2024 for a fee of around £11 million.

Since arriving in Glasgow, Engels has continued to develop his reputation, and his performances have not gone unnoticed. A number of clubs have monitored his progress over recent months, with interest now beginning to intensify as the summer transfer window gathers pace.

Nottingham Forest previously linked

Recent reports have indicated that Nottingham Forest have been among the clubs keeping a close eye on the midfielder.

It has been suggested that the Premier League side view Engels as a potential replacement for Elliot Anderson, whose departure has left space for another central midfielder to arrive.

However, despite the reported admiration, Forest have yet to submit an official offer or make a formal move for the Celtic player.

While the English club continue to assess their options, another European giant may now be preparing to take advantage of the situation.

Roma identify Engels as a target

According to reports from Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, AS Roma have identified Engels as one of the players they could pursue this summer.

The Serie A side are believed to be planning for the possibility of losing midfielder Manu Kone before the transfer window closes.

Roma faced pressure to improve their financial position before UEFA’s June 30 financial deadline because of Financial Fair Play regulations. As a result, Kone had emerged as one of the players most likely to be sold in order to help the club balance its finances and avoid possible sanctions or financial penalties.

Although that deadline has now passed, there remains a strong possibility that Kone could still leave the Italian capital before the end of the transfer window.

Should that happen, Roma would immediately require a replacement in midfield.

Initial contact reportedly made

The report claims that new Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini views Engels as one of the strongest candidates to strengthen his midfield options.

Because of that interest, Roma have already taken an early step by contacting the player’s representatives.

According to the newspaper, discussions with Engels’ entourage have taken place during the “recent days,” representing the first concrete move in what could become a more serious pursuit.

Although no official bid has yet been submitted to Celtic, those initial conversations are viewed as laying the groundwork for a possible formal approach later in the transfer window.

For now, Roma appear to be gathering information before deciding whether to advance negotiations.

Celtic’s asking price revealed

Reports suggest Celtic have already established the valuation they would require before considering any sale.

According to Il Messaggero, the Scottish champions would expect a fee in the region of €20 million to €25 million if they were to allow Engels to leave this summer.

That valuation is believed to be within Roma’s financial reach should they complete the expected sale of Kone.

The Italian club therefore appear capable of matching Celtic’s current demands, provided funds become available through outgoing transfers.

However, much of the situation still depends on developments involving Roma’s existing midfielders.

Roma weighing up their midfield options

The future of Manu Kone remains the biggest factor influencing Roma’s transfer plans.

If he stays, the need to recruit another central midfielder could become less urgent.

At the same time, Roma are also expected to retain highly-rated youngster Niccolo Pisilli, who is viewed as an important part of the club’s long-term plans.

In addition, the Serie A side remain keen to keep Neil El Aynaoui, whose impressive performances at the World Cup have further enhanced his reputation.

Should both Pisilli and El Aynaoui remain in Rome, while Kone also stays, Roma’s pursuit of Engels could lose momentum.

Conversely, if Kone departs, the Belgian could quickly become one of the club’s priority targets.

Competition could increase the price

Despite reports suggesting Celtic would currently consider offers between €20 million and €25 million, there is growing belief that completing a deal may ultimately require a significantly larger transfer fee.

Interest in Engels is not limited to Roma.

Several clubs across Europe continue to monitor the midfielder closely, with Premier League sides expected to possess far greater spending power than many of their continental rivals.

Nottingham Forest remain among the clubs linked with the player and would likely have little difficulty matching Celtic’s reported asking price.

The Premier League club have strengthened their financial position considerably following Elliot Anderson’s departure, giving them the flexibility to compete aggressively should they decide to make an official approach.

Crystal Palace have also been mentioned as another potential destination.

The London club recently boosted both their profile and financial resources after winning the UEFA Conference League, placing them in a strong position to compete for high-quality signings during the current transfer window.

Celtic remain in a strong negotiating position

The growing list of interested clubs gives Celtic considerable leverage in any future negotiations.

With multiple teams monitoring Engels, the Scottish champions are under little pressure to accept the first acceptable offer that arrives.

Instead, competition between interested clubs could allow Celtic to demand an even higher transfer fee than the €25 million currently being discussed.

That situation may create particular difficulties for Roma.

Although the Italian side may be able to meet Celtic’s initial valuation, competing financially with Premier League clubs could prove far more challenging.

English sides generally possess significantly greater transfer budgets, allowing them to increase offers beyond levels that many Serie A clubs are comfortable paying.

For that reason, Roma’s hopes of signing Engels may depend not only on selling Manu Kone but also on moving quickly before interest from England intensifies further.

As things stand, Roma have made the first move by opening communication with the player’s representatives, but with clubs from England also watching developments closely, Celtic are well placed to benefit from a competitive market that could ultimately push Arne Engels’ value beyond the figures currently being reported.