Few clubs develop young talent better than Celtic.
Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, Odsonne Edouard, Kieran Tierney all sealed big-money moves to the Premier League after making their mark in green and white north of the border, Matt O’Riley following in their footsteps with a £25 million switch to Brighton and Hove Albion this week.
So it’s intriguing indeed to imagine how far Arne Engels can go once Brendan Rodgers gets his mitts on a 20-year-old midfielder with a collection of stand-out Bundesliga performances on his CV already.
HITC reported on Friday morning that Celtic were set to use some of that O’Riley windfall to break their transfer record for the second time in the space of a few weeks.
After bringing Adam Idah back to Parkhead on a permanent basis, the Premiership champions have agreed a historic £11 million deal with Augsburg for Engels.
Celtic set to sign Augsburg ace Arne Engels
Speaking to NTV, Augsburg coach Jess Thorup sounded like a man with mixed feelings as one of the most adaptable footballers in Germany’s top flight prepares to swap Bavaria for Scotland.
“It’s great how Arne has developed,” Thorup says during his press conference, Bayern Munich’s near neighbours preparing to face off with Heidenheim on Saturday.
“I don’t think I made the final decision (to sell Engels). It’s up to the club and the player when you get an offer like that.
“Sometimes, have to live with it (as a manager).”
Capped ten times by Belgium at Under 21 level, Engels is an attack-minded midfielder by trade but has also filled in out wide and in more defensively-focused roles at times.
He scored three times and set up five more in the Bundesliga last term, with Thorup feeling that Engels’ – who won the division’s Rookie of the Month award more than once – may have a future in the number ten position.
“I had a few good discussions with him about it,” the former KRC Genk, Copenhagen and Denmark Under 21 coach told Liga Insider. “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, while a deal for Los Angeles FC attacker Matuesz Bogusz is now seen as unlikely, Celtic are set to spend a further £6 million on Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty.
The left-footed former Arsenal youngster could form a partnership with fellow USA international Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of Brendan Rodgers’ backline, with the Celtic boss confirming that both Engels and Trusty may be available for Sunday’s Old Firm derby meeting with arch rivals Rangers.
Auston Trusty also arriving from Sheffield United
“Yeah, could be (available), aye”, Rodgers says, via Celtic FC on YouTube. “A number of the players we’ve been looking at have been playing, and are up to speed.
“We do an MOT on a player when they come in just to see where they’re at anyway, but most of the players we’re looking at will be in a good place.”
Like with Thorup, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder used his Friday press conference seemingly to say his goodbyes. He confirmed that Trusty is in the final stages of a switch to Parkhead.
“I believe Trusty (is undergoing a) medical and (agreeing the) final bits to Celtic,” Wilder told The Star. “I believe the Trusty one was last night going in this morning, so that’ll be announced pretty quickly.
“We picked the first team of the season [at Preston] and he wasn’t in it. There was interest for Celtic and he wanted to explore it.”
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