Celtic hit the jackpot last summer when they broke their transfer record to sign Belgium international central midfielder Arne Engels from Augsburg for £11m.
The 21-year-old midfield star scored ten goals and provided 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership champions, which shows that he hit the ground running in his first year at the club.
Engels offered a consistent threat from midfield with his ability to score and assist goals for the Hoops, as he did not need any time to adjust to Scottish football.
The 21-year-old midfielder also has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve further in the coming years at Celtic, which means that he could get even better and grow in value if he continues to shine on the pitch for Brendan Rodgers.
Celtic eyeing goalscoring midfielder
The Premiership champions are now reportedly looking at another central midfielder who provides a big threat at the top end of the pitch to bolster their squad.
According to the Daily Star, as relayed by the Daily Record, Rodgers wants to bring former Burnley midfield star Josh Brownhill to Parkhead this summer.
The English whiz has confirmed that he has moved on from Turf Moor, despite their promotion to the Premier League, after his contract expired at the end of last month.
This latest report suggests that Celtic are in the race to snap him up on a free transfer, but they will face competition from Premier League side West Ham United.
It may now be down to Rodgers, who is keen to sign the midfielder, to convince Browning to reject a move to the London Stadium in the coming days.
Why Brownhill may be the next Engels for Celtic
Whilst he would not be a club-record signing or an exciting young talent like Engels was when the Belgian arrived last summer, the former Burnley man could make a similar impact on the pitch in the short term.
Like the former Augsburg dynamo, Brownhill is an attack-minded central midfielder who has the potential to provide the team with plenty of goals and assists.
The 29-year-old ace was once hailed as a potential “superstar” by former boss Lee Johnson, and that is exactly what he could be in Scotland if he carries his Championship form over to the Premiership.
|
24/25 season |
Brownhill (Championship) |
Engels (Premiership) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
42 |
34 |
|
Goals |
18 |
9 |
|
Goals per game |
0.4 |
0.3 |
|
Big chances created |
8 |
11 |
|
Assists |
6 |
6 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
2.3 |
0.8 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
46% |
49% |
As you can see in the table above, Brownhill scored twice as may league goals as Engels, whilst racking up as many assists, in the 2024/25 campaign.
These statistics suggest that he has the potential to be the first midfielder to score 18 goals since Matt O’Riley managed it in the Premiership in the 2023/24 season, before his £25m move to Brighton.
Brownhill, who also delivered seven goals and eight assists in the 2022/23 Championship season, is a midfielder who looks to be a difference-maker for his side with goals and assists from the middle of the park, which is why he could be an Engels repeat for the Hoops.
The Belgian star hit the ground running to score and assist goals on a regular basis from midfield last term, and the English ace could follow in his footsteps, possibly offering even more of a threat in front of goal, if the club can strike a deal with him.
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