Celtic will welcome AC Milan to Glasgow on July 25 as part of the club’s pre-season preparations – but there may already be one major subplot surrounding the fixture.
What side will Arne Engels actually be playing for by then?
The Belgian midfielder is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about names heading into Celtic’s summer rebuild after another hugely impressive campaign in Glasgow.
Engels played a major role in helping Celtic somehow recover from a chaotic season to complete the domestic double under Martin O’Neill, and his performances have not gone unnoticed across Europe.
Recent reports have suggested AC Milan are among the clubs showing strong interest in the 22-year-old, while Premier League attention has also intensified.
Nottingham Forest reportedly had three bids rejected for Engels during the January window, with the final offer believed to be worth around £25million.
Celtic stood firm at the time because of the title race, but there is now a growing expectation a major bidding war could emerge this summer.
Engels recently changing agents has only added further intrigue to the situation.
The pre-season clash itself should still provide a fascinating test for Celtic regardless of who remains at the club by then.
The two sides last met competitively during the Europa League group stage in 2020.
Celtic raced into a 2-0 lead at the San Siro before eventually collapsing to a 4-2 defeat, while Milan won 3-1 at Celtic Park in the reverse fixture.
This latest meeting will obviously carry far lower stakes, but supporters will still relish seeing one of Europe’s biggest clubs return to Glasgow during what is shaping up to be another hugely important summer for Celtic both on and off the pitch.
Celtic are yet to officially confirm this, but the Italian press are running the story.
