Atalanta are set to stalk Celtic for another transfer target with the Italians now interested in Arne Engels, according to reports in Italy.

The Europa League winners saw several bids for Matt O'Riley rejected last year, both in January and over the course of the summer before eventually losing out to Brighton, who landed the former MK Dons and Fulham midfielder in a Scottish record £25million deal. But now the Bergamo based club are said to be keeping an eye on Belgian breakthrough star Engels.

Brendan Rodgers used a good chunk of the O'Riley fee to sign Engels, breaking the Hoops' record to bring him to Parkhead from FC Augsburg in Germany. Some indifferent early displays led to some questions being raised over the signing for so much money, but Rodgers warned not to write him off and pointed to Nicolas Kuhn's improvement after taking six months to find his fitness and form.

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And while Atalanta may have stood a chance of tempting O'Riley away from Celtic Park, signing Engels is a long shot to say the least. The champions only shelled out £11million for him just before the transfer window closed.

To even entertain the idea, they would be looking for double that fee at least. Rodgers has high hopes for the Club Brugge academy graduate and the club see him as a player who can develop into a star over the next few years, which will see his value soar and allow Celtic to demand the sort of money Kieran Tierney, Jota and O'Riley were sold for.

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