Celtic could see £4.4m bid accepted to sign a bigger talent than Engels

Celtic are no strangers to cashing in on their best players when European clubs come knocking, and it is looking like Arne Engels could be their latest big-money departure.

The Belgium international joined the Hoops for a club-record fee of £11m from Augsburg in the summer of 2024, which was a risky move at the time to pay such a big fee for a player who had been a bit-part player in the Bundesliga.

Now, though, the central midfielder is reportedly being eyed up by Premier League sides Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, who want to take him away from Parkhead in the summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old talent has also changed his representation in an attempt to seal a transfer to a major European league, whether that is the Premier League or another country.

After a return of 17 goals and 21 assists in 98 appearances for the Hoops in all competitions, the Belgian star has seemingly decided that his journey in Glasgow is over.

Celtic eyeing deal to sign Eredivisie star

Losing Engels, who scored in the SFA Cup final against Dunfermline in his last appearance for the club, would be a blow for Martin O’Neill because of the goals and assists that he provides.

However, the Scottish Premiership champions are now looking at a player who would arrive at Parkhead as an even bigger talent than the Sunderland and Forest target.

According to Football Insider, Celtic are continuing to pursue a deal to sign Go Ahead Eagles attacking midfielder Jakob Breum in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Eredivisie side are willing to accept offers of around £4.4m for the Danish talent, as he only has one year left on his contract in the Netherlands.

It adds that a £4.4m deal is easily affordable for the Scottish giants this summer, which means that they could see a bid accepted for his services if they decide to make a formal offer.

Football Insider also reveals that Breum, who was also linked with a move to Celtic in the summer of 2025, is also being looked at by Fulham and Sunderland in the Premier League.

How Jakob Breum is a bigger talent than Arne Engels

The Hoops must now pay the £4.4m asking price to have a bid accepted for the Dane because he has the quality to arrive as an even bigger talent for the club than Engels.

After paying £11m for Engels in 2024, who is now wanted by Premier League teams, Celtic could land a better player for O’Neill for less than half of that price.

Their respective performances at league level in the 2025/26 campaign suggest that Breum has even more to offer to the team in the number ten position next season at Parkhead.

The Danish whiz, dubbed “magic” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, made a greater impact at the top end of the pitch for his side last term, scoring more goals, creating more ‘big chances’, and providing more assists for his teammates.

These statistics, along with Breum’s ten-goal haul in the Eredivisie in the 2024/25 campaign, suggest that Celtic would improve the quality of their attack by replacing Engels with the Go Ahead Eagles star, if he can adapt to Premiership football.

It is not just his work in possession that could make him a bigger talent for Celtic than Engels, though, as the £4.4m-rated star won 57% of his ground duels and 53% of his aerial duels in the Eredivisie last term.

Meanwhile, the Hoops ace lost 62% of his ground duels and 50% of his aerial battles in the Premiership, which suggests that the Danish magician would provide even more physicality in the middle of the park.

The fact that Breum averaged 1.1 successful dribbles per game at a success rate of 60% also shows that he is more dynamic and mobile than Engels, who averaged 0.1 successful dribbles per match at a success rate of 36%.

For all his technical quality, the Belgium international is not the most agile player with the ball at his feet, which sometimes means that he can be easily dispossessed, and that is not something that can be levelled at Breum.

Therefore, Celtic could improve their team and alleviate any fears about what life after Engels will look like by signing an even bigger talent this summer.