As Matt O’Riley packed his baggage for Brighton on the climax of the window, these of a Celtic persuasion could properly have been fearing the worst for the season forward, with the Previous Agency giants having misplaced such an influential determine within the coronary heart of the midfield.
The previous MK Dons playmaker had been merely masterful in 2023/24 after registering 19 targets and 18 assists in simply 49 video games in all competitions, taking his complete tally for the membership to 62 targets and assists in 124 outings.
A £25m expertise equivalent to that’s laborious to interchange, not least for a fraction of the price, however to the Hoops’ credit score, they do look to have recruited successfully with the intention to fill that inventive void.
To steal a phrase from Moneyball, Brendan Rodgers and co seem to have changed the Denmark worldwide ‘within the combination’, slightly than with one sole buy, bringing in three everlasting additions in these attacking midfield berths within the type of Luke McCowan, Paulo Bernardo and Arne Engels.
Regardless of a shaky displaying away at Ross County final day out – through which the Belgian was hooked on the hour mark because the guests trailed – it has been a very strong begin to life in Glasgow for that man, Engels.
Arne Engels’ begin at Celtic
As said, the previous Augsburg starlet – who signed on a club-record £11m deal within the wake of O’Riley’s exit – was removed from at his greatest final day out, having notably squandered possession on 15 events in what was a slightly nameless displaying.
That stated, from simply seven appearances for the membership to this point, the 21-year-old boasts a promising return of two targets and three assists in all competitions – a effective technique to start repaying that sizeable switch payment.
That haul of 5 purpose involvements locations Engels alongside the likes of Alistair Johnston and Callum McGregor among the many Celtic ranks, with the membership captain notably additionally starring within the midfield, with 4 targets and one help to this point.
Solely Kyogo Furuhashu (six purpose involvements), Daizen Maeda (eight purpose involvements) and Nicolas Kuhn (14 purpose involvements) have contributed to extra targets to the aspect to date, indicating simply how efficient each Engels and McGregor have been within the centre of the park.
Their file is, nonetheless, being matched or bettered by a former Parkhead star who’s presently shining away from the membership, having been allowed to go away underneath Ange Postecoglou on a free.
Olivier Ntcham’s season to date
Described as “extremely gifted” and a participant who “has every thing” by Rodgers upon his arrival at Celtic Park from Manchester Metropolis again in 2017, Olivier Ntcham went on to get pleasure from a profitable four-year stint on the membership, successful 9 home trophies in all in that point.
The place Are They Now
Your star participant or greatest flop has left the membership however what are they doing within the current day? This text is a part of Soccer FanCast’s The place Are They Now sequence.
After chalking up 37 targets and assists in 124 video games for the membership throughout all fronts, the Cameroon worldwide finally opted to maneuver in the summertime of 2021, having beforehand spent a half-season on mortgage at Ligue 1 aspect, Marseille.
Regardless of Postecoglou’s suggestion that Ntcham wished to remain put in Glasgow, the midfielder finally departed following the expiry of his contract, shifting on to Swansea Metropolis in England’s second tier.
That stint yielded 18 purpose involvements in 82 video games, though it’s at present aspect Samsunspor the place the 28-year-old has really discovered his ft, after arriving in Turkey again in 2023.
Since then, the French-born maestro has registered ten targets and one help in simply 35 video games, having significantly impressed within the early knockings of this season.
Very similar to McGregor, Ntcham has scored 4 occasions – and contributed one help – in eight Tremendous Lig outings, making certain he has surpassed Engels’ return in entrance of purpose.
As membership legend Chris Sutton said, the one-time Genoa man’s profession was “on the drift” throughout his closing days at Celtic, with it pleasing to see that he has now discovered his ft elsewhere.
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Ntcham’s Tremendous Lig stats |
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8 video games (8 begins) |
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4 targets |
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1 help |
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1 ‘huge likelihood’ created |
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0.9 key passes* |
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85% move accuracy* |
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0.3 interceptions* |
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1.3 tackles* |
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6.1 balls recovered* |
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1.5 profitable dribbles* |
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52% complete duels received* |
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11.8x possession misplaced* |
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Stats by way of Sofascore (*per recreation) |
A participant who may produce moments of magic in his pomp – together with that winner towards Lazio – Ntcham actually had loved a stage of success in a Celtic shirt, albeit whereas enduring one thing of a turbulent finish to his time in Scottish soccer.
Alas, he’s now thriving in pastures new, whereas Celtic, in the meantime, look set to keep up their home dominance backed by a brand new crop of thrilling midfield property.
Associated
Acquired Soro as a substitute: Celtic as soon as wished to signal a £27m star within the making
The Hoops have been fascinated with a deal to signal the midfielder from the Premier League.
