Napoli are ‘evaluating’ a move for Arne Engels, joining a long queue of interested clubs in the Celtic midfielder.
Engels is widely expected to leave Celtic this summer after two years in Glasgow. His form towards the back end of the season showed exactly why.
Nottingham Forest (who had a £25 million bid rejected in January), Fulham and Sunderland are interested from the Premier League, whilst AC Milan, Lazio and RB Leipzig have also been linked.
It’s an advantageous position to be in for Celtic, who made the midfielder their record signing for £11 million two summers ago.
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Napoli join queue for Celtic’s Arne Engels in brace for midfield exit
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Napoli are evaluating Engels with two-time Serie A winner Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa expected to leave the club this summer.
Celtic are reportedly ready to make more than €25 million for the Belgian.
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Massimiliano Allegri has just taken over the reins from Antonio Conte after a disappointing title defence.
There are already plenty of familiar names in the midfield ranks at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona: Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay and Engels’ countryman, Kevin de Bruyne.
The interest won’t be surprise to Celtic after how hard Forest pushed for his signature six months ago.
Forest’s £25 million bid was the third of three sent in the final 24 hours of the transfer window, with the club desperate for a midfielder after losing Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz.
Martin O’Neill was protective of Engels in January, insisting that the deal would only happen if the Parkhead hierarchy received a £100 million offer.
He isn’t the only Hoops midfielder expected to be on the way out this summer.
Reo Hatate was left out of the matchday squad for the final two games of the season, with the writing seemingly on the wall regarding his future. Paulo Bernardo is also completely out of favour.
A stellar debut season by Benjamin Nygren is also generating interest, and a rapid exit hasn’t been ruled out for the Celtic top scorer.
Even captain Callum McGregor hasn’t ruled out an exit, whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract is now up.
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Midfielders being linked with Celtic
Benjamin Tahirovic is very much liked by Celtic; Brondby have reportedly now had contact from Celtic regarding his services. On paper, he profiles as a direct replacement for Engels.
Milan Vitalis Elijah Just and Elliot Watt are all also on the radar.
Celtic have also reignited their interest in Jakob Breum, the Danish midfielder for whom they infamously sent several lowball offers last summer.
Celtic had scouted both Silas Andersen and Issa Doumbia in recent months, but the pair are now on the verge of joining Sporting in Portugal.
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