NafisaCeltic supporters have every reason to be excited about what lies ahead, but there is already a major storyline developing behind the scenes that could have a significant impact on the Hoops before one of the biggest fixtures of the season.
Martin O’Neill’s side are preparing for a demanding campaign, with domestic trophies to fight for and European ambitions high on the agenda.
The club have also been active in strengthening the squad, with new faces arriving at Parkhead as the manager looks to build a team capable of competing on multiple fronts.
But there is one problem that has emerged at a particularly awkward time.
Celtic have lost an important member of their squad just as the calendar begins to move towards September.
And the timing is what makes the situation so uncomfortable.
The Hoops are not only preparing for another title battle. They are also looking towards a huge Old Firm meeting that will see them travel across Glasgow for a League Cup quarter-final.
That fixture is now looming large.
Celtic’s big September test:
The League Cup draw handed Celtic a trip to Ibrox, setting up a mouthwatering quarter-final against Rangers over the weekend of September 12/13.
It is already one of the most anticipated matches of the domestic season.
Derek McInnes will be desperate to make his mark in his first Old Firm meeting as Rangers boss, while O’Neill will be determined to ensure Celtic continue their pursuit of silverware.
And there is another twist.
The two clubs are scheduled to meet again at Celtic Park just eight days later in the Premiership.
That means two Old Firm fixtures in a matter of days.
Naturally, both managers will want their strongest possible squads available.
Celtic, however, have already seen one of their key players disappear from the equation.
The departure that could change Celtic’s plans
The midfielder in question had become an increasingly important figure at Parkhead.
His ability to contribute in possession, provide energy in midfield and influence matches in the final third had made him a valuable part of Celtic’s plans.
Losing that type of player would be difficult at any stage of a season.
Doing so immediately before two massive meetings with Rangers makes it considerably more complicated.
The club now have to decide whether their existing options are enough or whether another signing is required.
And if a replacement does arrive, O’Neill will have to integrate him quickly.
There is no luxury of waiting several months for a new midfielder to settle.
The Old Firm is already on the horizon.
Rangers connection emerges
But there is something else about this departure that makes Celtic supporters’ frustration even greater.
The person behind the move is someone with a very familiar connection to Rangers.
That individual previously worked at Ibrox and knows the Scottish football landscape extremely well.
Since leaving Scotland, he has taken up a senior recruitment position at West Ham United and has continued to use his knowledge of the market.
And that has now brought him directly into Celtic’s affairs.
West Ham were looking for midfield quality and identified one of Celtic’s most valuable assets as a priority target.
The negotiations eventually gathered pace.
A substantial offer was placed on the table.
And Celtic ultimately accepted.
Only then did the full significance of the move become clear.
The player Celtic have lost
The player at the centre of the story is Arne Engels.
The Belgian midfielder has left Celtic to join West Ham United in a deal worth £22 million, with the transfer becoming the most expensive signing ever made by an EFL Championship club.
Engels has signed a five-year contract with the Hammers.
For West Ham, it represents a major statement of intent as they attempt to return to the Premier League at the first opportunity.
For Celtic, however, it represents the loss of a player who had become an important part of their midfield.
Engels made 100 appearances for Celtic, scoring 17 goals and registering 22 assists while helping the club win consecutive Scottish Premiership titles as well as the Scottish Cup and League Cup.
That is not an insignificant contribution.
And the Rangers man behind it?
The former Rangers figure involved is Nils Koppen, who previously held a senior technical role at Ibrox before moving to West Ham.
Koppen has played an important role in West Ham’s recruitment strategy and identified Engels as a key target.
That connection has inevitably made the transfer more uncomfortable for Celtic supporters.
A man who previously worked for their biggest rivals has now helped an English club take one of Celtic’s key players away from Parkhead.
And he did it for a record-breaking Championship fee.
The irony is difficult to miss.
Celtic now have a huge hole to fill
The £22 million fee gives Celtic significant financial power to reinvest.
But the sporting challenge remains.
Engels was not simply another squad player who could disappear without affecting the team.
He provided goals, assists, physicality and energy from midfield.
Replacing those qualities requires careful recruitment.
And Celtic cannot afford to get that decision wrong.
The consequences could become particularly obvious when Rangers arrive on the other side of the city.
McInnes has already spoken about the need for his Rangers side to improve before facing Celtic.
The Ibrox club will surely be studying every possible weakness in O’Neill’s team.
If Celtic fail to replace Engels properly, midfield could become one of the areas Rangers attempt to exploit.
The timing could hardly be worse
There is still time for Celtic to react before the Old Firm quarter-final.
The transfer window remains open and the club have demonstrated that they are prepared to invest.
But the clock is ticking.
A new midfielder needs to be identified, negotiations need to be completed, personal terms need to be agreed and the player then needs to adapt to O’Neill’s demands.
All of that has to happen while Celtic prepare for their European campaign and domestic title defence.
And hanging over everything is that trip to Ibrox.
Just weeks after Engels walked away from Parkhead, Celtic could find themselves standing opposite Rangers without one of the players who helped shape their midfield.
For Celtic supporters, that is the part of this transfer that hurts most.
A former Rangers man has helped West Ham take Celtic’s £22m midfield star — and now the Hoops must somehow fill the enormous hole he leaves behind before walking into an Old Firm showdown at Ibrox.
Nafisa
