Arne Engels will be a huge talking point for Celtic this summer.
The 2026 summer transfer window officially opened on Monday, and you suspect Engels’ future will take up quite a lot of the headlines at Celtic.
Even though some think that Engels could leave Celtic, Frank McAvennie isn’t in that camp, because he has his fingers crossed that the midfielder will stay put.
Engels is Celtic’s club-record transfer, but McAvennie feels that he showed during the post-split fixtures just how important he is for the champions of Scotland, even if others don’t realise it.
“I hope Engels doesn’t (leave) because he does something that nobody notices,” said McAvennie. “He settled that team when he came in. He settled the midfield beside McGregor.”
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Pick one player to sell for ‘£20m’ this summer. Engels or Nygren?
Who you picking and why, Celtic fans…
Arne Engels, the help that Callum McGregor needs at Celtic
Even though Celtic won the domestic double, many of the players, from new signings to proven stars, simply weren’t at it for the most part.
That includes captain Callum McGregor, as McAvennie told his Let Me Be Frank Podcast that Engels is the only one who helps him out.
McAvennie rightfully explained that Celtic were ‘getting battered’ on the break, and leaving their skipper vulnerable in the middle of the park.
“I think he (Nygren) is going to go,” said McAvennie. “I hope Engels doesn’t (leave) because he does something that nobody notices. He settled that team when he came in. He settled the midfield beside McGregor.
“I keep saying to you that McGregor was getting run over because everyone goes forward. Then, on the break, we were getting battered. It doesn’t matter who he was playing. McCowan was playing, but he didn’t have the legs to get back, and we were getting overrun in midfield.
“Whereas Engels was pretty good. Sitting in beside McGregor, and I thought he steadied the ship when he came back.”
The reason why Celtic must only sell Engels…
If Celtic can keep hold of Engels, then that would be brilliant because his stock rose during the period he was out injured.
But at the end of the day, money talks, and the club simply can’t reject any more big offers for his services.
Celtic rejected £25 million in January for Engels from Nottingham Forest.
There are suggestions that Forest, among other Premier League clubs, as well as Napoli, are keen on him once more.
If that’s the case, and the same type of money is put on the table, then Celtic simply have to sell.
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