Celtic wrapped up their fourth title in as many seasons final weekend once they beat Dundee United 5-0 at Tannadice Park within the Scottish Premiership.
An personal aim from Ryan Pressure put the Hoops 1-0 up early on within the match, earlier than two objectives apiece from Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah made positive of the victory.
The Scottish giants now have 4 matches left to play within the league with little to play for however pleasure and to increase their factors whole, in addition to utilizing the video games to heat up for the SFA Cup ultimate.
Brendan Rodgers’ aspect are because of face Aberdeen at Hampden Park within the SFA Cup ultimate on the finish of this month, realizing {that a} win would imply that they’ve accomplished the home treble this season.
It has been a terrific season for the Hoops, who additionally made it to the play-off spherical of the Champions League, and a few of their signings within the final summer season switch window have contributed to that.
Celtic determined to splash the money, after Matt O’Riley’s transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion, with a club-record swoop to signal Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported charge of £11m.
Why Arne Engels has been a profitable signing for Celtic
The Belgian midfielder had solely began 13 of his 32 appearances within the Bundesliga for Augsburg within the 2023/24 marketing campaign, which meant that the Hoops have been breaking their switch report to signal a younger participant who had but to show that he might carry out persistently as a daily starter.
It was a raffle that has already paid off for the Scottish giants, although, as Engels has loved a terrific debut season at Parkhead, nailing down a spot as an influential determine in midfield for Rodgers.
The 21-year-old expertise has scored ten objectives and offered 12 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops this time period, which exhibits that he has made a big effect on the high finish of the pitch.
It’s value including that eight of these ten objectives have come from the penalty spot. In fact, you continue to have to attain from 12 yards, but it surely does counsel that the midfielder doesn’t carry an enormous aim risk from open play.
Arne Engels (24/25) |
Premiership |
Champions League |
---|---|---|
Begins |
22 |
9 |
Huge probabilities created |
11 |
3 |
Key passes per recreation |
1.7 |
1.8 |
Assists |
5 |
3 |
Tackles + interceptions per recreation |
0.8 |
2.4 |
Duel success price |
48% |
59% |
Stats through Sofascore |
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, Engels has offered constant high quality as a creator for his teammates with 14 ‘massive probabilities’ created in 31 begins within the Premiership and the Champions League mixed, while additionally holding his personal in bodily duels.
These statistics present that the Belgium worldwide has been a profitable signing for Celtic as a result of he has hit the bottom working as a star for the Hoops.
Nonetheless, the Scottish giants might land a good larger expertise than Engels by swooping to signal one of many reported switch targets forward of subsequent season.
Celtic’s curiosity in Premiership star
The Scottish Solar not too long ago revealed that Celtic had a suggestion turned down for Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller within the January switch window.
It was claimed that the Hoops and Italian aspect Udinese had bids rejected for the Scotland U21 worldwide, who remained at Fir Park for the second half of this season.
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The outlet added that Belgian aspect Union Saint-Gilloise are lining up a swoop for the Scottish starlet within the upcoming summer season switch window, with a charge of £5m mentioned to be on the playing cards.
Celtic should, now, press forward with one other try and signal the Motherwell sensation when the summer season window opens for enterprise, as a result of he has the potential to be a good larger expertise than Engels for the Bhoys.
Why Miller is a good larger expertise than Engels
Firstly, Miller is three years youthful than the Belgian midfielder, who performs in the identical place as him, and has already established himself as a daily starter within the Premiership.
He has began 48 matches within the Scottish top-flight because the begin of final season, which exhibits that the teenage gem already has loads of expertise within the league regardless of his age.
This additionally signifies that he has much more time left forward of him to develop and enhance as a participant compared to Engels, as he has established himself as a star at first-team degree at a a lot youthful age.
Miller’s performances within the Premiership for Motherwell, together with his gorgeous help towards Celtic final season within the clip under, additionally counsel that he might provide much more than the Belgian ace within the short-term as nicely.
The Scottish ace, who has been hailed as “ridiculous” by pundit James McFadden, has the standard to supply the same degree of creativity while offering extra to the crew out of possession.
24/25 Premiership |
Arne Engels |
Lennon Miller |
---|---|---|
Appearances |
31 |
28 |
Huge probabilities created |
11 |
10 |
Key passes per recreation |
1.7 |
1.6 |
Assists |
5 |
6 |
Tackles + interceptions per recreation |
0.8 |
3.1 |
Ball recoveries per recreation |
2.5 |
6.5 |
Duel success price |
48% |
52% |
Stats through Sofascore |
As you’ll be able to see within the desk above, Miller, regardless of taking part in for an inferior aspect at Premiership degree, has solely created one fewer ‘massive probability’ in three fewer appearances.
The Motherwell dynamo has, nonetheless, gained the ball again way more continuously for his aspect and are available out on high in a better proportion of his duels with different midfielders.
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Due to this fact, Celtic might land a good larger expertise than Engels by signing Miller as a result of he has carried out in addition to the Hoops star in possession, while doing extra for his crew defensively, and is three years youthful than him.
It’s now right down to the membership to get a deal over the road for the teenage starlet, who might develop right into a star for the Scottish giants subsequent season and for a lot of seasons to return.