Celtic told 'special' player will be hard to replace as two clubs urged to approach Rangers

The English Championship club are understood to have had two bids rejected by Celtic for Engels, who value him in the region of £25 million. The 22-year-old Belgian started Monday night’s 1-0 win over Dundee to kick off the Scottish Premiership campaign.

And former Belgium internationalist Toby Alderweireld, a compatriot of Engels, says his departure would leave a massive void in the Celtic team.

“Arne Engels has shown us how special he is by playing week in, week out, proving himself for Celtic, and he will not be easy to replace,” said Alderweireld.

“Players who are consistent are always so important. Anyone can have a YouTube compilation made about them even if they only play well every four games but to be a player who is always seven out of 10 every week, that’s what a manager wants. He will be a big loss to Celtic.”

Capped 127 times by Belgium, Alderweireld is also aware of another of his countryman playing in Glasgow, with Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin also touted for a summer transfer.

Raskin played a part in Belgium reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup and Alderweireld, who spent six years at Tottenham Hotspur, says clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle United should be looking at Raskin.

“Nicolas Raskin played very well at the World Cup so I am not surprised he could be on the move,” continued Alderweireld in an interview via Hajper. “He is a holding midfielder who is very dynamic, who can ask for the ball and play it forward, between the lines. That’s a special and rare thing.

“I don’t think the biggest teams are looking at him but he could do very well at those underneath that level like Newcastle United or Aston Villa, especially with Youri Tielemans moving on.

“Raskin is not the biggest guy but he has very strong legs and that’s what you need in the Premier League. Are Aston Villa and Newcastle going to make a move for him? I don’t know how but I think he should definitely be on their lists.”