Bundesliga side consider shock move for Celtic’s Arne Engels | OneFootball

RB Leipzig are considering a shock January move for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels. The £11m signing from Augsburg is being linked with a return to the Bundesliga with the well-oiled Leipzig eager to sign the Belgian Internationalist.

Leipzig are in the market for a central midfielder and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz appears to be their preferred candidate. However, they have also looked at adding the 22-year-old from Celtic.

German transfer journalist Florian Plettenberg has confirmed that Leipzig are exploring a deal for Engels but that there are a number of clubs interested in signing the player.

Arne Engels of Celtic scores from the spot during the Scottish Premiership match between Livingston and Celtic at Set Fare Arena on December 27, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Celtic cannot afford to sell their best players, especially given how light the squad is at present. Engels has not had his best season but has played some of his best football under Martin O’Neill, playing in the deeper role with Callum McGregor. In modern football, Celtic will need to sell the player to maximise his value but only once a replacement has been identified. Leipzig have a list of two players that they are considering if a deal for their preferred candidate falls through.

Celtic will be looking to add to their squad in the final two weeks of the window, especially with Sunday’s crucial fixture against Hearts at Tynecastle. The Celtic hierarchy met on Monday evening at Lennoxtown in order to address the deficiencies in the squad, bringing in the quality that both Brendan Rodgers and O’Neill have called out for.