Tottenham are eyeing the signing of a third midfielder.
Tottenham Hotspur have already improved their options in the middle of the park considerably this summer, signing Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. Given the amount of money splashed on the duo, one would expect Fernandes and Tonali to be regular starters in Roberto De Zerbi’s XI next season.
And by the sounds of it, Spurs are far from done, as Roberto De Zerbi appears to be in the market for another midfielder. This is purely due to Lucas Bergvall seeking an exit, Pape Matar Sarr’s uncertain future and the departures of Yves Bissouma and Joao Palhinha.
Tottenham plot surprise move for Celtic midfielder
Spurs have started considering replacements for exit-bound Lucas Bergvall, and a Celtic midfielder has emerged on their radar. According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham are eyeing a surprise swoop for Arne Engels.
“It’s going to be hard for Celtic to keep hold of him this summer, despite rejecting an offer for him in January,” Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider.
“Obviously, they’ve got more time to plan ahead in this summer transfer window. I’m sure Engels himself would be interested in the move away if a move to the Premier League comes up.
“For Tottenham, again, their interest has come as a surprise, maybe in some respects. They’ve bolstered their midfield already with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
“So, whether they see Engels joining that as well remains to be seen, but they are showing no signs of slowing down in the transfer market.”
Spurs must compete with several clubs for Arne Engels
Engels is now firmly on Tottenham’s shortlist, as the key decision-makers look to replace Bergvall. Since arriving from FC Augsburg, Engels has become a key player for Celtic, making 64 Scottish Premiership appearances over the past two seasons and contributing 14 goals and nine assists. He is also no slouch defensively, with the Belgian a competent tackler and ball-winner.
The youngster can also operate as a full-back and a winger. That flexibility makes the 22-year-old an attractive option for De Zerbi, whose teams demand intelligent movement, technical quality and players comfortable receiving possession under pressure. The report adds that Engels could cost only £25m.
At 22, Engels still has work to improve but the talent is there for everyone to see. For £25m, the Belgium international would represent an excellent value-for-money addition to De Zerbi’s Tottenham ranks.