Celtic playmaker in-demand as new club enter £26m transfer race while 'lucrative offer' lined up for striker

Engels, 22, was the subject of a failed bid from Nottingham Forest on deadline day in February, with the English Premier League outfit believed to have offered a fee of around £22million plus add-ons to tempt him to move to the City Ground.

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However, with Celtic embroiled in a title scrap, manager Martin O’Neill insisted the bid was rejected, and he went on to play a major role as they won the championship for the fifth successive season.

“Personally, I’m delighted that the board turned it down,” said O’Neill in February. “It’s really tempting, and it’s come at a very, very late stage, I must admit. So, really great credit to them. He didn’t kick up a fuss about it either, even though it had come in late. And of course, it’s tempting, it’s really big money for here.”

The Belgian international was always likely to have suitors once the transfer window re-opened last week, with the likes of RB Leipzig, Sunderland, and AFC Bournemouth all credited with interest in Engels, who has scored 17 goals and assisted 21 more since his record-breaking £11million move from Augsburg in September 2024.

However, it has now been revealed that Italian giants AS Roma have also joined the race to sign him and are showing serious interest in his services. As per a report from Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Serie A side are ready to battle clubs from across Europe for his signature, and has recently firmed up their interest in the Celtic midfielder.

Managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, the 68-year-old is a long-time admirer of the Belgian, having previously made him a target during his time with Atalanta, and is said to have made him a ‘primary’ target this summer as he builds his squad ahead of next season’s Champions League campaign.

And the Italian side could have jumped the queue for Engels, with a report earlier this week claiming that one of the interested parties, Nottingham Forest, were ready to focus their attention on other targets, despite the expected departure of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for £116million. However, Roma have been informed that Celtic won’t allow the talented youngster to leave cheaply, and have been quoted a fee of €30million (approximately £26million).

Meanwhile, Kelechi Iheanacho is linked with a move to the Turkish Super Lig after it was revealed that the option to extend his contract at Celtic by a further year had expired. Iheanacho became somewhat of a cult hero at Parkhead after various vital late goals helped Martin O’Neill’s men win a league and Scottish Cup double, but no formal discussions have taken place since the end of the season over a new deal, leading to uncertainty over his future at the club.

According to reports in the player’s homeland, unnamed Turkish clubs want to present the 29-year-old with a ‘lucrative offer’, with Celtic delayed over a new contract for the former Manchester City player.