Celtic is planning to sign a bargain Engels replacement, praised as “outstanding” by Ange.

The disappointment surrounding Celtic’s European campaign is still fresh, with the club attempting to move forward after one of the most dramatic collapses in recent memory. Just days after taking a commanding 4-0 advantage, the Bhoys were eliminated from the Champions League qualifying campaign by LASK following a disastrous night in Austria.

The result has naturally raised questions about Celtic’s squad and whether Martin O’Neill’s team has enough quality and depth to compete at the highest level this season. However, with the transfer window preparing to close on Tuesday, there is little time for the Parkhead hierarchy to dwell on the setback.

Instead, Celtic’s recruitment team remains focused on strengthening O’Neill’s squad, with another midfielder potentially being considered before the club’s attention turns fully towards domestic competition.

Celtic Have Already Invested Heavily This Summer

Celtic have already made significant moves in the transfer market this summer, demonstrating their determination to build a squad capable of competing for another Scottish Premiership title.

The club broke its transfer record to bring Kasper Hogh to Glasgow from Bodo/Glimt, while further sizeable investments were made on players including Camilo Duran and Mika Baur.

Hogh arrived for a reported £11m, while Baur joined from Paderborn for around £6.8m. Haissem Hassan was brought in from Real Oviedo for approximately £6m, while Colombian forward Camilo Duran arrived from Qarabag for a reported £5.5m.

The early signs from some of these additions have been encouraging. Hogh and Duran, in particular, have made positive impressions since arriving, giving supporters hope that Celtic can recover from their European disappointment and maintain their domestic dominance.

Nevertheless, the defeat to LASK highlighted that O’Neill’s squad still has weaknesses that need addressing.

Celtic Continue Searching for Midfield Reinforcements

The collapse against LASK exposed some of Celtic’s shortcomings and appears to have encouraged the club to continue searching for additional reinforcements.

One of the names now being linked with a possible move to Glasgow is Yves Bissouma. The midfielder is currently available as a free agent following his departure from Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season.

Bissouma’s availability makes him an intriguing proposition for Celtic. Unlike a player currently contracted to another club, signing the Mali international would not require Celtic to negotiate a transfer fee or complete a deal before the domestic transfer deadline.

The situation also gives Celtic more time to consider whether Bissouma is the right addition for O’Neill’s midfield.

However, the midfielder’s history away from the pitch means Celtic would need to carefully assess the potential risks involved.

Bissouma’s Talent Has Never Been in Doubt

While Bissouma has experienced disciplinary problems during his time in England, his footballing ability has never seriously been questioned.

The midfielder was previously excluded from Tottenham’s squad after repeated lateness, while he was also dropped during an earlier campaign following an incident involving laughing gas that appeared on social media.

Despite those controversies, Bissouma repeatedly managed to regain his place in the Tottenham squad. His performances on the pitch have ultimately ensured that his managers have continued to value what he can provide.

At 29, he would offer Celtic considerable experience of Premier League football and could bring a physical presence and defensive strength that O’Neill’s midfield may currently lack.

Bissouma Could Be an Upgrade on Engels

Celtic’s interest in Bissouma becomes even more intriguing when his numbers are compared with those of Arne Engels, who previously occupied an important midfield role for the Scottish club.

The statistics from the 2025/26 campaign suggest that Bissouma could offer Celtic considerably more defensive protection.

Engels played 2,010 minutes during the league campaign, compared with 605 for Bissouma. Despite the significant difference in playing time, Bissouma averaged 2.68 tackles per 90 minutes compared with Engels’ 1.34.

His advantage also extended to recoveries. Bissouma recorded 4.61 recoveries per 90 minutes, while Engels averaged 2.73.

The difference in duel success was even more striking. Bissouma won 62.7 per cent of his duels, compared with 41.3 per cent for Engels.

Engels did, however, contribute more in front of goal, averaging 0.22 goals per 90 minutes, whereas Bissouma failed to score during his league appearances.

Those figures underline the different qualities the two players would bring. Bissouma would provide Celtic with greater strength and defensive authority, while Engels offered more of an attacking threat.

How Bissouma Could Help Celtic’s Other Midfielders

A potential move for Bissouma would not necessarily be about directly replacing everything Engels offered.

Instead, his defensive qualities could allow Celtic’s more creative midfielders to play with greater freedom.

Bissouma’s ability to win challenges, recover possession and protect the backline could provide the platform for players such as Mika Baur to influence matches further forward.

That balance could be particularly useful for O’Neill as Celtic attempt to become more competitive in difficult matches.

The LASK defeat demonstrated the consequences of losing control in midfield, and bringing in an experienced ball-winner could help address that problem.

If Celtic can secure Bissouma without paying a transfer fee, it could potentially represent one of the smartest pieces of business of the summer.

Ange Postecoglou’s “Outstanding” Verdict

There is also an interesting endorsement that Celtic could point towards when assessing Bissouma.

Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, who later worked with the midfielder at Tottenham, previously described Bissouma as “outstanding” in 2025.

Postecoglou clearly recognised the midfielder’s ability and relied on him despite the disciplinary issues that had occasionally affected his availability.

That recommendation could provide Celtic supporters with some encouragement that Bissouma still has the quality to make a significant impact.

A Potential Bargain for Celtic

Celtic’s pursuit of Bissouma could ultimately represent an opportunity to strengthen the squad without committing another sizeable transfer fee.

The club have already spent heavily this summer, including a record-breaking investment in Hogh, so adding a player with Premier League experience for nothing could be particularly attractive.

There would still be questions surrounding Bissouma’s consistency, discipline and physical condition, especially given his limited league minutes last season.

However, purely from a footballing perspective, his defensive statistics suggest that he could offer something Celtic currently need.

With the European disappointment still fresh and O’Neill seeking to improve his squad, Bissouma could provide the experience and defensive quality required to strengthen the midfield.

If Celtic can manage the potential risks associated with the player and get him back to his best, the free-agent deal could turn out to be an excellent piece of business.

Replacing Engels is one challenge, but finding someone capable of improving Celtic’s midfield without spending a transfer fee would be an even bigger achievement.