AS Roma are eyeing Arne Engels as a potential Manu Kone replacement, if new reports are to be believed…
What is certain is that The Belgian midfielder has long been admired by current Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini and could land him this window.
There is a massive build-up of speculation regarding the Celtic midfielder’s future, which was only heightened recently when Martin O’Neill came out straight and said he would imagine Engels would be one who would most likely move on this window. That has led to intense rumours about where Arne Engels might end up, with an endless queue of clubs for him.
English Premier League trio Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Crystal Palace are said to be very keen, with Nottingham Forest thought to be putting aside some of their Eliot Anderson fortune to snap up the 22-year-old engine-room operator. However, as of yet, no bid has arrived from Forest or any of the other aforementioned clubs to date.
That lull in Premier League interest may just have been enough to get Roma to step up their pursuit of the former FC Augsburg man, as they search for a potential Manu Kone replacement this summer. Frenchman Kone is the subject of strong interest from England too, with numerous reports stating that Michael Carrick is eager to bring the World Cup star to Old Trafford as part of his new project.
Gazzetto dello Sport have now claimed that should Roma lose Manu Kone in this current transfer window, they will use the funds to go after Celtic star Engels, who the publication claim would cost anywhere in the region of between €20-25 million. It also states that the deal grants the opportunity for the Italian giants to keep UEFA sweet in the process, getting in €55-60 million for Kone and then sourcing a cheaper alternative, owing to financial regulations.
Celtic should not be entertaining bids that are below market value for a player like Engels, regardless of what league the Scottish Premiership Champions play in. If Manu Kone is going for around €55-60 million, then Celtic should be looking for around €30-35 million for Engels for sure.
Just as well we have such a shrewd negotiator as Michael Nicholson fighting our corner.
Paul Gillespie
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