ARNE ENGELS CELTIC REPLACEMENT ALREADY LINED UP FOR SUMMER?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
One of the biggest criticisms I, and indeed a great many other Celtic fans, have had of the club in recent years is our lethargy and dithering when it comes to transfers.
With the notable exception of Ange Postecoglou’s first season in charge, when we had players signed up well before the conclusion of both transfer windows, it’s been a case of “same old, same old” as far as Celtic transfers go. Sell a prized asset for big money and then leave ourselves scrabbling in the final hours of the transfer window to bring in a replacement.
Indeed, were it not for the current, near nuclear levels of heat the Celtic Board are feeling from fans at the moment, Arne Engels could well have been the latest big-name departure, without an adequate replacement being brought in.
However, according to multiple sources today, it seems Celtic may finally be engaged in a bit of forward planning.
Will Xaver Schlager be Arne Engels Celtic Replacement?
Today, there is widespread reporting that Celtic have offered a pre-contract agreement to RB Leipzig midfield powerhouse, and Austrian international Xaver Schlager.
At 28 years of age, and already a seasoned international with years of European experience behind him, Schlager is certainly older than Celtic’s usual profile of new recruit.
Although we knocked back a reputed £25 million offer for him on deadline day, it seems likely Arne Engels’ Celtic career could still end this summer.
Indeed, before Nottingham Forest appeared on the scene, his rumored destination was RB Leipzig, as a direct replacement for Schlager.
However, like Engels, Schlager ultimately opted to stay in Germany until the end of the season. Despite this, he has made it clear he wants a new challenge and will leave Leipzig this summer.
So, could it really be true? Are Celtic actually, finally, engaging in some semblance of forward-planning. It certainly seems that way.
One has to wonder if this, along with moves to bring in former England star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and a sudden, renewed eagerness for fan dialogue is just yet another cynical maneuverer designed to undermine the planned boycott of tonight’s game against Dundee.
On the subject of the boycott, I think Born Celtic’s piece yesterday excellently articulated exactly why this boycott needs to happen, even if not everyone is on board.
Still, that’s a discussion we will, no doubt, revisit after tonight’s game. In the meantime, the news of a pre-contract offer to a player of Schlager’s caliber and experience is exciting, and should be welcomed. I just hope the Board have had the good sense to offer the player something better than his current deal at Leipzig.
He is exactly the kind of skillful yet combative midfield presence we have been sorely lacking for a number of seasons now. I really hope this deal goes through. However, as a free agent, I am sure Schlager will have a number of offers on the table within the next couple of months.
Still, by getting in there first, Celtic may have just gained an edge, and at least started a positive dialogue with the player.
Fingers crossed that this pans out.