Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers addresses record fee for Arne Engels in Friday transfer update

Add as preferred source on Google

Brendan Rodgers has addressed speculation surrounding the number of potential incomings at Celtic ahead of the transfer deadline tonight.

Augsburg midfielder Arne Engels is set for a medical, and the club hope to confirm the Belgian talent on a deal that could become their biggest ever up-front transfer fee paid at £11 million. He is the main headline as we speak.

Moving to the backline situation, Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty is close to joining Celtic for £6 million, provided red tape is cleared to supply him with the correct visa before the cut-off point.

There is also scope for the Bhoys to recruit a second midfielder after Rodgers confirmed he wants two bodies in the door to replace Matt O’Riley.

Dundee captain Luke McCowan has been continually mentioned in media circles as someone who could fill the brief. Now, the Irishman has given an update on the transfer state of play at Celtic, including added insight on their potential record-breaking pursuit of Engels.

Brendan Rodgers delivers Celtic transfer state of play

Speaking to Sky Sports, Rodgers has admitted there are a ‘number’ of potential transactions in play at the moment as the transfer deadline approaches.

Firstly, he stated: “We hope to close out the market in a really positive way. We always said we wanted to finish today stronger than we entered into it, and I’m very positive we can do that.”

Then, asked about Engels, Rodgers continued: “There are a number of things we’re looking at. Hopefully we can do that. I never want to the speak while the process is in place but we have a number of transactions going on behind the scenes and hopefully by the this evening we can be in a really good place and have the strength that we want.”

Later down the line, he finished when asked about Engels potentially breaking Celtic’s transfer record: “What we want to keep doing is keep progressing. If we can sign someone who is a regular young player in the Bundesliga along with the other players we want to sign, that’s the support the team needs.

“The supporters will be really happy bringing in the level of players that we can. The team deserve good players to come in and challenge them.”

Offering excitement to supporters, it appears Rodgers is confident deals can be forced over the line before the transfer window closes.

Reading between the lines, you can also start to assume that Engels is bound to be announced in a matter of hours, barring any last-minute hitches, given the manager has referenced the midfielder’s Bundesliga background and attributes when prompted.

Hopefully, others can follow him through the Celtic Park entrance tonight, and supporters can experience an exciting end to the market before all focus turns to Sunday’s Glasgow Derby clash against Rangers.