For every Cameron Carter-Vickers, there is a Maik Nawrocki. For every Nicolas Kuhn, there is a Luis Palma. As evidenced here, getting recruitment right at an elite club like Celtic is never an easy task.
Thankfully, while there has been the odd miss along the way, the Parkhead giants have enjoyed far more hits on the transfer front in recent years, with Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers having overseen a golden period of domestic dominance for the Hoops.
Indeed, the Scottish champions have become renowned for sniffing out a bargain, with young Matt O’Riley perhaps the greatest example of the club’s scouting success. Signed for just £1.5m from third-tier English club, MK Dons, the Danish international was subsequently sold for a club record £25m fee last summer.
There may be a sense of frustration among some at being labelled something of a ‘selling club’, although that also goes hand in hand with being able to offer a clear pathway to help attract talented, high-potential talents in the first place.
Perhaps, having witnessed the fortunes of many of those who have opted to leave the Glasgow side in the hope of a brighter future elsewhere, the current crop may think again before securing too hasty an exit.
The fortunes of Celtic's record sales
Let’s begin with O’Riley. The current Brighton and Hove Albion man hasn’t exactly enjoyed the smoothest of starts in English football, picking up a cruel injury blow just nine minutes into his competitive debut for the Seagulls.
Now into March, the 24-year-old has only started five Premier League games for the high-flying side, albeit while notably stealing the headlines after scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City.
Meanwhile, six years on from leaving the Hoops to join Arsenal, Kieran Tierney is set to re-join the Old Firm side this summer on a free transfer, with the 27-year-old having endured an injury-hit spell south of the border.
The Scotland star will follow in the footsteps of another of the club’s notable sales, Jota, by making an emotional return to Celtic Park, with the Portuguese sensation lasting just 18 months abroad before making his way back to Glasgow.
Elsewhere, at the age of 28, Moussa Dembele – sold to Lyon for £20m in 2018 – now finds himself out in Saudi Arabia, while fellow striker, Odsonne Edouard, is now in something of an exile on loan at Leicester City, having signed for Crystal Palace for £14m in 2021.
As evidenced with the club’s five record sales above, the grass isn’t necessarily always greener elsewhere. Perhaps that might be something Celtic’s potential next big sale might want to consider…
Celtic's next big sale
Discussing those who could leave Rodgers’ side should well be viewed in a flattering sense, with talk surrounding the club’s key figures a sign that they are performing at a high level for the Premiership leaders.
Market Movers
Performing at a high level is exactly what this current Celtic team is doing right now, having come agonisingly close to seeing off Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16. Such a showing would have been unheard of earlier in the campaign, let alone last season.
A player who has been central to the improvements on the European stage, in particular, is Arne Engels, with the 21-year-old having enjoyed a stunning debut campaign in green and white.
Stat (*per game)
Augsburg (23/24)
Celtic (24/25)
Games
32
26
Goals
3
9
Assists
2
5
Big chances created
1
10
Pass accuracy*
75%
85%
Key passes*
0.6
1.7
Tackles*
1.0
0.8
Interceptions*
0.5
0.1
Total duels won*
48%
47%
Successful dribbles*
0.2
0.3
It hasn’t all been plain-sailing, with Rodgers coming out in defence of a player who he said “is nowhere near the finished article” following a quiet spell back in the Autumn, yet the £11m man has really taken it up a gear of late.
Brought in from Augsburg as Celtic’s record signing, it might not be too long before Engels breaks that £25m barrier as the club’s record sale too.
At present, the midfield maestro already has 22 goals and assists to his name in all competitions, a tally that includes four goal involvements in just ten outings in the Champions League.
Also described by Celtic legend Chris Sutton as a player he is “liking… more and more”, the promising Belgian has certainly gone someway to filling O’Riley’s void, even while carrying the burden of his hefty price tag.
That said, that £11m fee could now even be considered a bargain due to his soaring value, with CIES Football Observatory suggesting that he is already worth as much as €30m (£25m), thus marking a 127% increase on his initial cost.
Previously also tipped to be Celtic’s first £40m sale, Engels is certainly doing a lot right at this moment in time. Let’s hope, for both his sake and the club’s, that such form continues.
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