Hoops booted out a £25million bid for the playmaker from Nottingham Forest back in January
14:29, 21 Apr 2026Updated 15:11, 21 Apr 2026
Arne Engels(Image: Getty Images)
Lazio are in talks with Celtic over a potential move for Arne Engels this summer – according to a report.
The Hoops smashed their transfer record to sign the Belgium international for £11million in August 2024, and he finished his first season at Parkhead with 10 goals in 52 matches in all competitions.
Engels – who has only recently returned to action from a thigh injury that kept him on the sidelines for nearly two months – was a target for Nottingham Forest late in the January window, with the English Premier League side prepared to offer as much as £25million for his services.
However, Celtic flatly turned down all three bids from their English counterparts, with interim boss Martin O’Neill they had no intention of selling the player unless a ridiculous offer was left on the table.
But reports in Italy have now emerged that claim the 22-year-old is wanted by Rome giants Lazio.
Journalist Lorenzo Lepore reports that Engels has impressed chiefs at the Stadio Olimpico and that talks between the respective parties are already underway.
He adds that the club see Engels as potential replacement for £17million-rated Nigeria star Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who has been linked with several teams in the Premier League and English Championship.
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The source also reports that a potential move for Engels could depend on the future of head coach Maurizio Sarri. The former Chelsea and Napoli boss returned for a second spell in charge of Le Aquile at the start of last season, narrowly missing out on Europe with a seventh place finish in Serie A.
But it remains to be seen if he will be at the helm beyond the summer, with Lazio currently 11 points off the top six with just five games remaining.
However, they could yet end the campaign with some silverware, with Sarri’s side in action against Atalanta in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final showdown on Wednesday with the scores level at 2-2.
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