Celtic's midfield maestro Arne Engels is turning heads in Germany, with RB Leipzig reportedly lining up a summer move for the Belgian international. According to transfer insider Florian Plettenberg, the Bundesliga giants have the 22-year-old firmly on their radar and are weighing up a bid to pry him away from Parkhead.

Engels has been a revelation for Celtic this season, delivering commanding performances week after week. In 27 Scottish Premiership appearances, he's netted four goals and created five big chances, while his overall tally of five goals and seven assists across all competitions has earned him a spot in the Belgian national team. His impact hasn't gone unnoticed in the dressing room either. "Arne has been fantastic since he walked in the door. Big price tag, big expectation, and he has handled it so, so well," praised Celtic captain Callum McGregor in a recent BBC interview.

At just 22, Engels is already a complete midfielder with untapped potential. Letting him go this summer would be a significant blow for Celtic. But here's the twist: while Leipzig's interest is understandable, the move might not be the golden ticket it seems. The German side is already stacked with midfield talent. Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, and Christoph Baumgartner form a formidable core, while highly-rated youngster Assan Ouedraogo is back from injury and Ezekiel Banzuzi is also in the mix. Even Arthur Vermeeren, who arrived with massive hype, has struggled for regular minutes at Leipzig.

That fierce competition is something Celtic can use to their advantage. Right now, Engels is playing every week, thriving under pressure, and developing rapidly at a major club. A move to Germany could easily stall that momentum. For the Hoops, the key this summer will be convincing their star midfielder that his pathway to greatness remains clearer at Parkhead than in the Bundesliga.

Stats courtesy of Sofascore and Transfermarkt.