Celtic’s opening bid for Arne Engels has been rejected by Augsburg. The Scottish Champions launched a bid on Monday morning for the promising Belgian as they look to replace Matt O’Riley, who is set for Brighton.
Celtic offered £6.5m for Engels but the Bundesliga outfit want between £8m-£10m to part with the 20-year-old. The player wants the move but Celtic will need to return with a better offer if they are to persuade Augsburg to sell.
Understand that this opening bid is much lower than Augsburg’s valuation of Arne Engels, so expect some more negotiating by/with Celtic before anything gets done.#FCA #CelticFC https://t.co/yyrxIw7Ua9
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) August 26, 2024
Celtic will be eager to get the player in the door ahead of Sunday’s Glasgow Derby meeting with Rangers. Engels represents an exciting prospect but in order to make an impact at the weekend, he would require to train with his teammates and get his feet under the table. Brendan will want this to be a theme around the club’s business but he’ll be realistic that they’ve been sluggish so far.
O’Riley has completed his medical with Brighton and is set to complete the £30m transfer later today. The Dane will sign a five-year deal with the Premier League side. Celtic, meanwhile, must prepare for life after O’Riley.
With an increased fee being looked for now, possibly means that an increase in personal terms will potentially follow suit also?
Looking more likely now, that as we are known as a cash rich club at present, then we can be held to ransom over bringing players into the club?
The trend was set in the idah deal, and other clubs following suit by the looks of things?
Problem with playing the waiting game, especially as we haven’t had any form of potentially looking at other targets for the position available within our squad, in place?
Something Ange had in operation, with the prepared to walk away approach in place, yet seen nothing from Rodgers to suggest that such a process is even in operation this summer?
With the money available, then don’t know why a haggling game needs to be in the making still, but looking more likely that we are potentially going to have to pay the inflated prices for certain players now, but won’t for players in other positions with more realistic sums involved?
Very strange manner in the way we are conducting our business throughout this window to date?
I don’t think so. In fact, the reverse in more likely to be true. I suspect we have several others in mind, because we don’t just go for anyone with a pulse. To Celtic, being a fit is important. It’s the reason guys like Shankland and Miovski are not in. They may well look like lethal striker options, but they aren’t Celtic fits.
The same goes for plenty of others. We’ve wasted enoungh time and money on guys like Lagerbielke, Haksabanovic, Oh, Shaw, etc. These guys should never have been signed. So patience is key.
If you can’t get the right guy, you’re better without the wrong one!