Roma Join Nottingham Forest For €30m Celtic: Why Parkhead Must Stand Firm On The Valuation? | OneFootball

The transfer scramble for Celtic’s midfield crown jewel has just gone continental. According to Football Italia on X, Italian giants Roma have officially thrown their hat into the ring for Arne Engels. It is a massive development. The 22-year-old playmaker is a wanted man after a blistering campaign in Glasgow, and Jose Mourinho’s former club now face an almighty scrap with Premier League duo Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth. Both English outfits are desperate to sign him.

Roma join fierce European race for Celtic star Arne Engels

Football Italia reports that the Scottish champions won’t budge easily, slapping a steep €30m price tag on the Belgian international. Forest already tasted defeat in this pursuit, seeing a £25m winter bid knocked back. But Roma’s recent European qualification has forced their hand, accelerating their interest in a player who racked up seven goals and eight assists across 46 matches last term. He controls the engine room, pulls the strings, and can shift out wide right without breaking a sweat.

Parkhead must stand firm over €30m valuation

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JANUARY 29: Arne Engels of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on January 29, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic hold all the aces here. Engels is locked down under a secure contract until June 2028, meaning the Parkhead board can completely dictate the terms of any potential departure this summer. They shouldn’t slash a single penny off that €30m asking price. Letting a versatile, young midfield maestro leave on the cheap is just terrible business, especially in today’s hyper-inflated market.

Look at the data. It tells you everything you need to know about why he’s worth the premium. Last season, he clocked an impressive 82 per cent passing accuracy and carved out 42 clear scoring chances for his teammates. He has a proper engine on him. He proved his mettle on the biggest domestic stage too, putting in a decisive, ice-cold performance during the Scottish Cup final triumph over Dunfermline Athletic. Four goals in 25 league outings, including three high-pressure penalties converted with total composure, show a maturity way beyond his years.

Nottingham Forest have got serious cash to burn after restructuring their squad. The Celtic hierarchy knows this. They can easily dig their heels in until someone hits the full valuation. If they sell him for a discount, how do they replace that specific long-ball accuracy and defensive grit? You can’t. It would require immediate, expensive reinvestment anyway. Giving Roma a bargain rate makes zero sense when brutal European campaigns are on the horizon. The ball is firmly in Celtic’s court.