How Celtic have already signed the right Engels substitute

The timing of the sale of Arne Engels stays a head-scratching one for these of a Celtic persuasion, with that call coming residence to roost away in Linz.

Having waited till mid-August to money in anyway, could not the Parkhead hierarchy have strung West Ham United alongside just a bit longer, to make sure the Belgian was accessible to function in that pivotal Champions League tie?

As it’s, the Scottish champions paid the value following that dismal collapse towards LASK, with even the £22m charge raked in for Engels not precisely aiding issues amid the shortage of a succession plan.

Because the weekend defeat to Rangers showcased, the void left behind by the 23-year-old is but to be crammed.

Why midfield stays Celtic’s largest difficulty proper now

Celtic’s upturn in kind on the finish of final season notably coincided with Engels’ return from harm, with Martin O’Neill having struggled to decide on a constant associate for Callum McGregor.

The £11m signing had his critics, however he had notably began the brand new marketing campaign in nice fettle, trying like a real powerhouse within the thumping 5-1 win away at Kilmarnock.

Alas, his much-needed athleticism, mobility and creativity at the moment are sorely missed, with the journey to Ibrox illustrating that within the largest video games, a trio of McGregor, Benjamin Nygren and Mika Baur simply does not minimize it.

It was that very same trio that began proceedings in Austria too, with the Hoops merely getting overrun on each events. Certainly, Dan Neil had a area day on Sunday afternoon.

McGregor stays central to this group and this membership, whereas the diminutive Baur has his deserves as a technical, ball-playing expertise, but it surely actually must be a case of 1 or the opposite, significantly if Nygren is deployed forward of them.

With Ferencvaros on the agenda within the Europa League on Thursday evening, O’Neill will certainly have discovered classes from these latest outings, with the 74-year-old needing to discover a option to attempt to deliver a way of steadiness again to that midfield unit.

Fortunately, the right substitute for Engels may already be within the constructing at Parkhead.

Why Celtic’s new Engels has to begin towards Ferencvaros

There’s depth in O’Neill’s midfield division, however is there real high quality? That also must be determined.

Luke McCowan, the person more likely to problem Nygren in that quantity ten function, was abject towards LASK, having certainly plummeted down the pecking order.

As for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the veteran Englishman will once more be absent this night attributable to suspension, whereas teenage arrival, Joel van den Berg, has been ignored of the Europa League squad altogether.

That leaves fellow summer season signing, Oliver Sorensen, as the one clear choice to exchange considered one of Baur, McGregor or Nygren towards the Hungarian outfit, with the Dane arguably the closest factor Celtic need to Engels proper now.

After all, it has been a muted begin to life in Glasgow for the 24-year-old, with Sorensen trying significantly nameless within the slim win towards St Johnstone final week.

That forgettable outing had include the on-loan Parma star lining up in an ill-suited superior midfield function, nevertheless, with that seemingly not the most effective use of his skills.

The left-footer, at 6 foot 2, has the engine and the physicality to flourish in a box-to-box berth as an alternative, mirroring Engels as somebody who can chip in too by way of targets and assists.

His time in Serie A was underwhelming final season, though by his personal admission, Sorensen struggled in a group preventing for relegation, having beforehand flourished in a front-footed FC Midtjylland facet earlier than that.

Certainly, in 2024/25, as an illustration, he scored 9 and assisted three within the Danish Superliga, having created six ‘large probabilities’, whereas averaging 1.1 key passes per sport.

Out of possession too, the Scandinavian averaged 1.7 tackles and interceptions per sport, in addition to 4.3 ball recoveries per outing, placing out fires all around the pitch. That was evident within the Europa League that season too, as he averaged 2.7 tackles per sport from his seven appearances within the competitors.

For context, that very same season noticed Engels get pleasure from an identical return of 9 targets and 6 assists within the Premiership, albeit with the Belgian simply behind by way of tackles and interceptions (0.8) and ball recoveries (2.4).

Sorensen has additionally been given the backing of his fellow Dane, Erik Sviatchenko too, the previous Celtic defender lauding his compatriot’s bodily qualities, in addition to likening him to Kieran Tierney by way of his “want and starvation“.

“As a participant, he jogs my memory loads of KT. He has that very same power however in the course of the park – it’s simply sheer want and starvation. He’ll run all day.

“He’s a very bodily, box-to-box midfielder. Celtic followers can count on assists and targets from him however even on a day when he’s perhaps not at is greatest, he’s by no means one to cover. He offers 100 per cent on a regular basis. I actually imagine he’ll thrive within the strain that comes from taking part in for Celtic”.

That is excessive reward certainly, and whereas Sorensen hasn’t precisely made any form of impression as but in inexperienced and white, what higher time to show he’s the following Engels within the making, amid what’s a pivotal week for O’Neill and co.