Celtic have struck gold on Ange signing who's now worth more than Engels
Those of a Celtic persuasion are in mutinous mood right now, and rightly so, having been forced to witness a calamitous summer of transfer activity.
An unbeaten start to the new domestic season has also been overshadowed by last month’s grim Champions League exit, with the failure to properly enhance Brendan Rodgers’ ranks leading up to that tie having undoubtedly backfired.
In the Premiership, away from the chaos, things appear to have gone a little bit stale, with the current crop producing displays that are a far cry from the scintillating style of the glorious Ange Postecoglou era.
The recent drab Glasgow derby was an obvious case in point, with that 0-0 stalemate at odds with Postecoglou’s outfit at their pomp. Just look back to such performances as the 3-0 win over the Ibrox side in February 2022.
Parkhead was at its buoyant best that night, and the football was simply stunning, with the men in green and white almost playing a different game to their beleaguered opponents.
That magic, that ferocious approach, has since been lost.
From plucking bargains from afar under the Aussie, the Hoops have resorted to paying over the odds during the Rodgers regime, with far too many transfer dealings having gone south of late.
Celtic's recruitment record post-Ange
As noted by former Celtic skipper Scott Brown, the club’s recruitment record under Postecoglou was simply “fantastic”, with the experienced coach simply a master at acquiring a hidden gem on the cheap.
Take Matt O’Riley, a player signed for just £1.5m from EFL side MK Dons back in January 2022, before ultimately being sold to Brighton and Hove Albion on a £25m deal in the summer of 2024 – marking a sensational profit.
Such success stories have been few and far between since then, however, with the 2023 summer window proving particularly disastrous. Indeed, of those signed amid Rodgers’ return, only Paulo Bernardo and Hyun-jun Yang are still at the club – albeit with even the Korean having come close to departing for Birmingham City before the recent deadline.
The likes of Gustav Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma and Marco Tilio have all come and gone without so much as leaving a trace, having looked destined to fail from the off amid their limited roles under Rodgers.
While it is too early to judge this summer’s transfer dealings, the recruitment of 12 months ago is also worthy of scrutiny. Adam Idah, for instance, has already been shipped off to Swansea City, while Arne Engels – signed for £11m – has yet to truly establish himself as a regular starter in Glasgow.
Described as “nowhere near the finished article” by his manager, the young Belgian appears to be burdened by such a lofty price tag, with that expensive outlay a constant source of debate among supporters and pundits alike.
The 22-year-old may well still come good, although the race is on to live up to the weight of his transfer fee.
Market Movers
Would the Hoops not have been better off seeking out a bargain instead, in the mould of say Reo Hatate?
How Hatate's value compares to Arne Engels
Reflecting back on that night in the winter of 2022, the rout of Rangers proved a breakout moment for that man Hatate, with the Japanese genius netting two stunning efforts to properly announce himself to the Parkhead faithful.
As per reporter Michael Bridges, Hatate and his compatriots simply “ripped the league to shreds” following their arrival.
Having been signed from Kawasaki Frontale just a few weeks prior, the all-action midfielder quickly made a mockery of his meagre £1.1m price tag, having been a mainstay under both Postecoglou and Rodgers since then.
After chalking up 13 goals and 14 assists in 66 games under the new Nottingham Forest boss, as per Transfermarkt, Hatate has enjoyed a rather similar record under his successor, with 15 goals and 14 assists under his belt from 81 outings.
While Rodgers did hint at the 27-year-old’s “inconsistency” during their first year working together, he did go on to flourish last term, having also got off the mark in 2025/26 with an outrageous effort away at Aberdeen.
That thumping strike emphasises just why the diminutive playmaker is such a “big talent” – in the words of Rodgers – with his overall record of 56 goal involvements in 147 games in all competitions ensuring he has more than made his mark in Glasgow.
Hatate – 24/25 Premiership stats
Stat (*per game)
Record
Games
37
Goals
10
Assists
4
Big chances created
14
Key passes*
1.2
Pass accuracy*
82%
Tackles*
0.9
Interceptions*
0.2
Total duels won*
44%
Stats via Sofascore
Such a stellar impact can also be felt when considering his soaring market value, with Hatate deemed to be worth as much as €13m (£11m), according to Transfermarkt. For comparison, Engels’ value is now said to be around €12m (£10m).
The subject of interest from Serie A side Udinese back in May, before ultimately staying put at Celtic, the 11-cap international looks like a player who will soon rake in a sizeable profit for the club, should he move on in the near future.
In the meantime, however, the hope will be that Hatate can play a central role in trying to revive this limp season for Rodgers and co, with the Hoops in very real danger of merely letting things drift.
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