Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are set to seal the double signing of Augsburg’s Arne Engels and Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty for a combined £17 million on deadline day.
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Brendan Rodgers has spoken about his frustrations towards Celtic’s recruitment department in recent times.
But a flurry of additions in the final few days of the window should boost the mood at Parkhead ahead of Sunday’s first Old Firm derby of the season.
Celtic confirmed the signing of Spain youth star Alex Valle on loan from Barcelona this week. The 20-year-old left-back, a graduate of the fabled La Masia academy, will provide some much needed cover for Greg Taylor on the flank.
HITC can now confirm that Valle is likely to be joined on the green side of Glasgow by one of the most promising young midfielders in the Bundesliga and an American international centre-back.
Celtic close in on Arne Engels and Auston Trusty
Arne Engels is arriving after Celtic agreed a fee worth £11 million.
The Augsburg speedster will therefore become The Hoops’ new record signing, Celtic putting the £25 million they earned from Matt O’Riley’s sale to Brighton and Hove Albion to very good use.
Celtic made history when they snapped up Adam Idah in a potential £9.5 million deal from Norwich City this month but Engels will immediately push him down to the club’s second-most expensive ever acquisition.
HITC understands that Auston Trusty will put pen to paper as well for a further £6 million.
Linked with arch rivals Rangers last summer, former Arsenal youngster Trusty belatedly heads north of the border after a traumatic season in the Premier League with Sheffield United. The Pennsylvania-born 26-year-old has two caps for his country, and will join fellow America international Cameron Carter-Vickers at Parkhead.
As a left-sided centre-half, Trusty could play alongside the right-footed Carter-Vickers while easing the pressure on Liam Scales.
Mateusz Bogusz deal ‘doubtful’
One player who does not appear likely to end the window as a Celtic player, however, is Mateusz Bogusz. Celtic had been in talks with the £8 million-rated Los Angeles FC talisman, but sources have told HITC that an agreement is now ‘doubtful’.
Scorer of 17 goals for LAFC this term, Bogusz looked like a potentially readymade O’Riley successor given his penchant for drifting in off the right onto his favoured left foot.
Still, this is shaping up to be a positive end to a difficult window for Rodgers and co, with Valle earning plenty of praise from the Celtic boss at his unveiling this week.
“His footballing style will complement our attacking play as well as giving us more options in our backline,” Rodgers tells the Celtic website.
‘Álex has been brought up in a real high-quality footballing environment learning all the good habits and skills associated with any top team. He is a player with some tremendous attributes.
“He has performed really well for Levante last season, been around Barcelona’s first team this year already, and he is a welcome and quality addition to our squad.”
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