Celtic fans are waiting to hear news on transfers. Some news of a formal offer this week won’t help. It’ll add to the impatience and frustration amongst the supporters. It doesn’t help Martin O’Neill’s preparations much either.
Several players look likely to be leaving. That increases the need and urgency for new signings. Arne Engels could be the next one to leave if reports from Belgium are correct.
Nottingham Forest made a series of hefty bids for Engels in January. An opening offer of £14m rose to £17m and then hit £25m as Forest tried to close the deal. Celtic held firm at the time, but it was always expected that Forest would return for the player this summer.
Celtic have had a formal offer for Arne Engels
Now, Voetbal Krant in Belgium reports that Forest are indeed back in contact with Celtic. Another offer has been made, and the EPL side looks keen to snap him up quickly. That might make Engels the next player out the Parkhead door, leaving a midfield gap to fill.
Forest does face serious competition, though. While a deal could close quickly, Celtic and Engels may hold fire to see what other offers come in. Reports suggest several EPL clubs are tracking Engels, and we could yet see Spurs, Crystal Palace, or Fulham step in with a bid.
Engels could have other options too. Several clubs elsewhere in Europe have also shown interest, including Roma, Lazio, Villarreal, and Atlético Madrid.
Engels is clearly attracting huge attention. It seems as though the question is about where and when rather than whether Engels leaves. It fits with Celtic’s player trading model to sell for a high fee. They did well to retain him in January, but cashing in now seems inevitable.
Celtic sell before buy approach frustrates fans
With question marks over other players in the hoops midfield, the situation looks worrying. Reo Hatate, Paulo Bernard, Benjamin Nygren, and even Callum McGregor have all been listed as possible exits. That's more than a gap emerging; it’s a huge hole in the midfield which needs filling urgently.
A big money deal for Engels helps fund more new signings. Celtic’s strong cash reserves should mean that the club doesn't need to wait until he has left to buy more players. But that doesn't seem to be the way the club operates. This adds even more to the fans' irritation levels as the news of new signings becomes even more protracted. That must surely be frustrating for O’Neill, too, as he seeks to rebuild the squad.
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