Celtic have identified FC Astana’s Ivan Basic as a potential replacement for Arne Engels, with Napoli circling the Belgian at a reported £25 million valuation.
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Celtic scouts were present at Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup opener against Canada to watch 24-year-old midfielder Ivan Basic, with the club actively planning for life without Arne Engels should a big-money move materialise this summer.
Napoli are the latest and most serious suitors for Engels, reportedly ready to pay £25 million – more than double the £11 million Celtic paid FC Augsburg for him in 2024. That kind of profit would be difficult for any board to wave away, and here’s the thing: the noises from Italy suggest this one has genuine legs. Engels turned in seven goals and 46 appearances last season, was outstanding in European competition, and has quietly become one of the most important players at Celtic Park. Losing him would hurt.
The fact that Celtic had scouts physically at the Bosnia versus Canada match – a 1-1 draw in Toronto where Basic played 61 minutes – tells you this is targeted, serious scouting rather than a casual glance at a database. Reports also indicate that Astana have effectively given Celtic the green light to pursue the player, which matters. You don’t want to be negotiating with a club determined to keep hold of their man.
Who Is Ivan Basic?
Basic, 24, came through at Zrinjski Mostar and was part of the squad that won the Bosnian Premier League in 2022 before three seasons in the Russian Premier League with Orenburg. He joined FC Astana in 2023 and has earned 18 international caps since his debut that same year. Celtic fans will have a vague recollection of Astana – we put eight past them over two legs in the 2017 Champions League qualifier, though that vintage of the Kazakhstani side bears little resemblance to the current setup.
Also playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina in that opener was Benjamin Tahirovic of Brondby, another midfielder Celtic are said to be monitoring. Two targets from the same nation, watched at the same game – that’s an efficient use of a scouting trip, and it fits the model of recruiting from less-spotlit leagues that Celtic have leaned on consistently.
The Bigger Picture
Engels not making Belgium’s World Cup squad cuts both ways. It keeps him fresh and available while others carry tournament fatigue into pre-season, but it also removes the showcase platform that might have pushed Napoli to accelerate. Either way, securing a midfield replacement before UCL qualifiers is critical, and with Martin O’Neill confirmed as head coach, the recruitment process has a clear decision-maker driving it.
Engels’ departure looks more a question of when than if at this point. The smart move is to have the replacement signed before the window slams shut rather than scrambling after the fee lands. Basic represents a gamble on potential from a lower-profile league, but so did Engels himself two years ago. Mon The Hoops.