Nottingham Forest will be in the market for some new players this summer, especially if Elliot Anderson eventually departs the football club.
Manchester City want Anderson, but it would appear as though Evangelos Marinakis isn’t budging on his £120 million valuation of the Forest number eight.
Would you take Arne Engels from Celtic?
Forest have Ibrahim Sangare, Nicolas Dominguez and Ryan Yates as midfield options after Anderson, and it’s fair to say that his departure will leave the squad short.
Now, with the transfer rumours becoming more rife ahead of the World Cup, Forest could return to try and sign one player who almost signed for the club in January.
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Nottingham Forest remain keen on Arne Engels
According to Team Talk, Engels remains on the shortlist at Forest when it comes to new midfield options, with two other Premier League clubs and Lazio also keen.
Forest pushed hard to try and sign Engels on transfer deadline day, with the club’s final bid of £25 million being knocked back hours before the window slammed shut.
The 22-year-old helped Celtic claim another Scottish Premiership title from the clutches of Hearts, and Martin O’Neill is facing a fight to keep his midfielder.
Engels is considered a bit of a set-piece specialist, and O’Neill praised him for his efforts after the failed January bid from Forest.
He told The Scotsman: “He’s a strong runner. He had scored a goal against Hibs when he dived in and headed it. If he wants something, he’ll add a few more goals during the course of a season. A goal-scoring midfield player is worth their weight in gold.”
Engels scored seven goals and claimed eight assists from 46 games in all competitions during 2025/26, and now he could leave Celtic this summer.
Forest should aim higher than Engels
Although there is a lot to like about Engels, it’s fair to say that Forest should perhaps be targeting a player proven in the Premier League if Anderson does go.
Nobody is suggesting that this would be the signing to actually replace the number eight, but Engels remains very raw, and there’s doubt over whether he’d be considered value for money.
Who is your ‘hear me out’ signing for Nottingham Forest to make this summer?! 👀🤔
We only want RED HOT takes! 🔥
A fee in excess of £25 million is a lot for a player from Celtic, and perhaps Engels would be a signing made with one eye on the future.
Forest will have to get their recruitment right this summer and it just feels as though there are too many reservations over the addition of Engels into the squad.
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