Engels is sort of player we need, Hibs bid £750 for Celtic target Luke McCowan

Celtic yesterday were linked with Belgium under 21 international Arne Engles…

The FC Augsburg midfielder who is 20 years old is highly rated and is valued at around £9 million. He’s played a total of 50 games in the Bundesliga scoring 3 times and registering 9 assists, so he’s hardly what you would call a ‘project’ player.

Engels is a versatile player and as well as being a midfielder who’s energetic and great on the ball, he’s also capable of playing at right back and right wing. So he’s certainly got the credentials that Brendan Rodgers likes in a player.

According to the reliable Anthony Joseph Celtic are interested in the Belgian but only if Matt O’Riley leaves the club. If true then that’s the sort of deal we should be pursuing. Investing a big chunk of any transfer fee we any receive on a player like Engels instead of two or three ‘project’ signings.

Matt O’Riley and Lazio’s Elseid Hisaj vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Lazio at Celtic Park on October 4, 2023. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Engles is the type of player who would fit straight into our team and give us the quality we need to move forward. Maybe we should be looking to sign such a player regardless if Matt leaves or not. I know, that’s a lot to ask, but we can dare to dream.

Ideal scenario is Matt stays. Second best is Matt goes for at least £25m and the club activate an agreement to bring in Arne Engles. Worst option is we left Matt go then hear a message from the club that Paulo Bernardo (a fine signing in his own right) is actually his replacement in the squad, with Luke McCowan coming in as a £1m signing to replace Bernardo’s role in the squad as he steps up to replace O’Riley.

Luke McCowan of Dundee celebrates after scoring equaliser from penalty spot to make it 2-2 Dundee v Dundee United, William Hill Premiership, Football at Dens Park on 4 August 2024. Photo Alan Rennie/Shutterstock

Hibs, incidentally have this morning made another bid for McCowan, this time for £750k, as Sky Sports has reported. They also point out that Celtic are monitoring the situation. The club will have asked Dundee to keep them updated and it is likely that the Dens Park side will be looking for £1m minimum for the midfielder.

BREAKING: Hibernian have made a third bid of £750,000 for Dundee captain Luke McCowan 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Celtic are understood to be closely monitoring the situation, but are yet to make an official approach. pic.twitter.com/eu94jVOm7v

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 15, 2024

Celtic are interested in Augsburg central midfielder Arne Engels.

The 20yo is one of the top targets, IF Matt O’Riley leaves.

Augsburg value him at around £9m.

Rennes also keen on Engels, but he’d prefer a move to Celtic to play in the #UCL.

First called by @swearimnotpaul pic.twitter.com/CPTyiQJoBW

— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) August 14, 2024