Tottenham Hotspur are now planning a surprise move for Celtic star Arne Engels, who would be interested in a move to the Premier League.
Roberto De Zerbi has already improved his options in the middle of the park considerably this summer, signing Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, but there are signs Engels could be ready to test himself south of the border.
Former Scotland international James McFadden has been particularly impressed by the midfielder’s performances for Celtic.
“He’s a class act. You can see the confidence. Sometimes you see players who move for big money and you think: ‘How are they going to cope with that pressure?’ Especially at a young age.
“He’s recently turned 21, but he is class. He’s so comfortable on the ball and his understanding of playing in that midfield position well. He knows when to go high, when to tuck around. His reading of the game, he’s tracking back and covering his teammates.”
Since arriving from FC Augsburg, the Belgian has gone on to become a key player for Celtic, making 64 Scottish Premiership appearances over the past two seasons, during which time he’s contributed 14 goals and nine assists.
Crucially, the 22-year-old is also willing to pitch in at the opposite end of the pitch, averaging 3.7 defensive contributions per 90.
Tottenham keen on signing Arne Engels
According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham are now plotting a “surprise” move for Engels, who could cost £25m.
Pete O’Rourke believes the central midfielder would be keen on a move to England.
The transfer correspondent added: “It’s going to be hard for Celtic to keep hold of him this summer, despite rejecting an offer for him in January.
“Obviously, they’ve got more time to plan ahead in this summer transfer window. I’m sure Engels himself would be interested in the move away if a move to the Premier League comes up. For Tottenham, again, their interest has come as a surprise maybe in some respects.
“They’ve bolstered their midfield already with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.”
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Who could be Tottenham’s best midfeld signing? |
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Sandro Tonali |
Out of the three potential additions to Tottenham’s midfield, Tonali is the most experienced at Champions League level, having made 32 appearances in the competition, picking up one goal and four assists. As such, the Italian could be best-suited to making an instant impact at Spurs. |
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Mateus Fernandes |
Fernandes may not have tested himself in the Champions League, but he arguably performed better than Tonali in the Premier League last season. The former West Ham United man picked up three goals and four assists, whereas the Italian failed to score, and set up just one goal. |
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Arne Engels |
Engels is more of a left-field option for Spurs, considering he is yet to test himself in the Premier League. However, the former FC Augsburg man has picked up four caps for Belgium, and could be signed for just £25m, making him a far cheaper option than Tonali and Fernandes. |
