Nottingham Forest have tabled a £25m formal offer for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels as Steve Cooper’s side chase a direct replacement for Elliot Anderson. The Belgian, 22, is now the subject of a multi-club chase that also includes Tottenham, Fulham and Atlético Madrid, with Crystal Palace also locked in talks but yet to meet the Glaswegian’s valuation.

Forest sit 16th in the Premier League with 44 points from 38 games — four clear of the bottom three — after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on 24 May 2026. Their recent run reads 0W-3D-2L across the last five, and they face Blackburn at home on 22 July 2026 in their next fixture.

Why Forest want Engels now

Elliot Anderson’s exit leaves a midfield void, and Forest are hunting two profiles: an experienced operator and a younger, high-upside talent. Callum McGregor, Engels’ Celtic teammate, backs the Belgian’s ceiling. “People unfairly judge him on the price tag,” McGregor said. “He plays with big heart and energy, always gets better because he has the right attitude.”

Last season in the Scottish Premiership, Engels created 42 chances — the third-highest at Celtic — and ended with 17 goals and 21 assists in 98 matches for the Glasgow side. His 2025-26 haul included four goals and four assists in the Premier League for Forest, making him a direct statistical match for Anderson’s output.

The race to sign Engels

Forest’s bid joins a crowded table. Tottenham, Fulham, Atlético Madrid, AS Roma and Villarreal are all circling, but Crystal Palace have dragged their feet on the £25m asking price. That hesitation could open the door for Forest to swoop, with Oliver Glasner’s side unwilling to overpay.

James Perch, a former Forest player, warned about the scale of the task. “To try and replace Elliot Anderson and what he does is going to be very hard,” Perch said. “I think it’ll probably take two players to cover what he does because he does so much for Forest in that midfield. But Curtis Jones is the obvious one — he’s proven, an England international, so you’re not taking a gamble on him.”

Forest are also weighing Jones, a Liverpool midfielder linked with a move to the City Ground. Yet Engels offers a younger profile — 22 versus Anderson’s 24 — and a ready-made attacking profile that fits Cooper’s pressing system.

What comes next for Forest?

Forest’s next move hinges on whether Celtic and agent accept Forest’s £25m offer. A deal would hand Cooper a direct Anderson replacement with Premier League minutes already banked, while keeping the door ajar for Jones if the Engels talks stall.

The club’s summer window closes soon, and with 44 points from 38 games, every league point matters. A late coup for Engels would tighten their grip on mid-table safety ahead of the July 22 clash with Blackburn.

Nottingham Forest currently sit 41 points behind Arsenal in the title race and have conceded 51 goals this season, leaving little margin for error in their survival push.