Brendan Rodgers is pushing hard to bring Arne Engels in to Celtic with the Scottish Premiership champions set to make a new bid in the region of £9 million though Augsburg are holding out for more.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
The Celtic boss warned supporters earlier this month that finding a readymade replacement for Matt O’Riley would likely be beyond the Glasgow giants.
O’Riley, after all, scored 19 goals and set up 18 more last season, winning the Premiership, the Scottish Cup and Celtic’s Player of the Year award along the way.
As of Monday, the London-born Denmark international is now officially a Brighton and Hove Albion player. And while O’Riley’s departure adds £25 million to Celtic’s coffers, any new signing is likely to be a young player who may need time to adapt and develop before he is capable of putting up such impressive numbers.
Celtic want Augsburg’s Arne Engels and Mateusz Bogusz
HITC have already confirmed Celtic’s discussions with Los Angeles FC ace Matuesz Bogusz.
Valued at £8 million, per the Daily Record, the former Leeds United starlet has been one of the stand-out forwards in Major League Soccer during 2024.
HITC can now reveal that The Hoops are looking to bring in Arne Engels from Augsburg too. Rather than land one or the other, Celtic are hoping to reinvest that O’Riley windfall in both players with the two deals likely to cost a combined fee somewhere in the region of £20 million.
Rodgers’ side are expected to submit an offer worth £9 million for Engels.
Augsburg want more than that, though sources at the Bundesliga club have suggested that an agreement could be struck for £12.5 million.
If Celtic were to pay such a fee, that would make Engels their new record signing, replacing Adam Idah in the history books only weeks after the striker returned from Norwich City on a permanent basis.
Brendan Rodgers’ side confident on three new signings
While Bogusz feels more like a natural O’Riley successor – a left-footed attacking midfielder who likes to drift in from the right – Engels’ game is all about versatility.
The speedy 20-year-old played almost everywhere for Augsburg last term; as a central midfielder, a left-winger, a right-back, you name it. Celtic, then, could be getting a few players in one.
Augsburg coach Jens Thorup, however, feels that a future awaits him as an advanced midfielder off the frontman.
“I had a few good discussions with him about it,” Thorup tells Liga Insider of Engels, who scored three goals and set up five more in the Bundesliga in 2023/24. “The focus was on how we can make his game even more dangerous for the opponent.
“He has the skills to play as a (number) ten. He can score goals, as well as make deep runs. And he is fast. We have practiced that.”
HITC understands that Rodgers – who spoke openly about his frustrations with Celtic’s recruitment of late – is pushing hard to Engels in the building before the window closes.
The Parkhead outfit appear confident that Rodgers will get his wish, Engels potentially arriving alongside Bogusz and Barcelona left-back Alex Valle.
The Spain Under 20 ace is likely to arrive on loan after being left out of the Barca squad for Tuesday’s La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano.
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