Chris Sutton expresses European concern amid high-profile Celtic departure as timing of deal labelled 'dumb'
Hoops hero is hoping lightning doesn’t strike twice in the Champions League play-off
Celtic allowing midfielder Arne Engels to go to West Ham before their all-important Champions League decider is ‘dumb’, according to club icon Chris Sutton.
Both clubs agreed a £22m fee for the Belgian less than a week before the first leg against Austrian champions LASK Linz at Celtic Park. While few are complaining about the EFL Championship record-breaking sum for Engels, Sutton has been left bemused at the timing of the deal.
As recent history tells us, the Champions League play-off fixture isn’t a match Celtic can afford to take lightly. Last season, the Hoops fell at this stage to Kazakhstani minnows Kairat Almaty - sparking outrage among fans towards the club’s hierarchy. The champions have started strongly domestically and have invested smartly in the summer - but failure to beat LASK over two legs would undoubtedly cast a shadow their initial positivity.
Sutton on ‘dumb’ timing of Engels transfer
In his Record Sport column, the pundit wrote: “I know I’ll get accused of being a doom monger – again – but I still have concerns about this European tie. And I can’t for the life of me work out why Celtic are allowing one of their best players to leave on the eve of one of the biggest games of the season. It's just DUMB. There’s so much on the line, it’s unthinkable to go in to this match in a weaker position – but that’s what is going to happen with Engels gone.”
Since signing for Celtic from Augsburg in 2024, the midfielder hasn’t always had things his own way in a green and white jersey but came to life towards the end of last season, when he returned from injury during the title race run-in to help them secure the domestic double. Despite the transfer rumours, manager Martin O’Neill has continued to play the 22-year old, as he particularly impressed in their recent 5-1 league win against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
What qualities does Engels possess that Celtic will miss?
Sutton continued: “I get that it’s a big money signing and I understand why West Ham want him now, with the Championship kicking off this weekend. But that’s not Celtic’s problem. They had to look after themselves. You only have to look at Engels’ display at Rugby Park at the weekend to see what he brings to Martin O’Neill’s team. He has an energy and drive that is hard to replace, he covers the entire pitch and brings some physicality they need.”
German midfielder Mika Baur was brought in from Paderborn earlier in the week to bolster options in midfield, but starting him in a fixture of Champions League magnitude would always be a gamble. In the meantime, it remains a mystery who is likely to take Engels’ place and partner Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren in the midfield on Wednesday night.