Bundesliga club 'exploring' transfer swoop for £11m Celtic star who has attracted 'plenty of enquiries'
Engels swapped Augsburg for Parkhead 18 months ago but has now been touted with a move back to the Bundesliga
Celtic midfielder Arne Engels is reportedly being monitored by RB Leipzig this month with the Bundesliga outfit currently exploring new midfield options.
The Scottish champions smashed their transfer record to sign the Belgium international from fellow German top-flight side FC Augsburg for £11 million back in August 2024, but he has yet to win over the whole Hoops fanbase with his performances.
To date, Engels has registered 14 goals and 18 assists in 85 appearances across all competitions. And it's now claimed that Leipzig - who beat Celtic in the Champions League last season - want to bring him back to Germany.
According to Sky Germany, the 22-year-old is on their transfer shortlist along with former Celtic target and current AC Milan star Ardon Jashari. However, they report that Leipzig will only swoop for the two players if they fail to get a deal over the line for Borussia Mochengladbach's Rocco Reitz.
Leipzig head coach Ole Werner is looking to bolster his midfield options amid speculation that they are close to terminating the contract of Austria international Xaver Schlager and the club have been assessing potential alternatives.
While no formal approach has been made to Celtic for Engels, there is mounting interest from clubs across Europe around the player who has been a near ever-present in the starting line-up since his high-profile switch to Parkhead.
With just under two weeks remaining in the January window, Celtic are pushing hard to bring in reinforcements while also trying to maintain the stability within Martin O’Neill squad.
Their chances of retaining the Premiership title could hinge on their ability to sign some new options at the top end of the pitch and a centre-half. It was revealed on Monday evening that the interim boss was meeting with the club’s hierarchy at Lennoxtown for a crunch transfer summit as he looks to ramp up their recruitment drive.
It’s understood a loan bid has been submitted for Lorient striker Mohamed Bamba but Celtic appear to have lost out on reported Croatian target Franko Kovacevic, who is poised to join Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros, and West Ham frontman Callum Wilson, who now looks set to remain in East London until the summer.
They've also seen a potential loan deal for misfiring AS Roma hitman Evan Ferguson fizzle out after the Irishman was given a new vote of confidence by senior club officials amid suggestions that his temporary move from Premier League club Brighton could be cut short.