How valuable are Engels, Maeda & McGregor to Celtic?

Martin O’Neill’s comments over the weekend have sharpened the focus on three Celtic players whose futures now look uncertain. The Northern Irish manager admitted he has accepted the likelihood of losing Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda, while also planning talks with Callum McGregor about his captaincy. With only one summer signing confirmed so far—Colombian striker Camilo Duran from Qarabag—the stakes could not be higher for a club that came within a point of losing the Premiership last season.

Arne Engels: the midfield engine

Engels arrived from Augsburg last summer as a direct replacement for Matt O’Riley, who had just departed for Brighton. The 22-year-old Belgian midfielder has already shown flashes of the creativity and late runs into the box that convinced Celtic to move for him. He scored ten goals in 2024-25 and seven last term, including twice in the final-day league win over Hearts and once in the Scottish Cup final victory over Dunfermline. His eight assists in the most recent campaign underline his value in transition moments, when Celtic need to break lines quickly under pressure. Those contributions came in a season when the champions needed every edge to retain the title, with the title race ultimately decided by a single point.

Daizen Maeda: the relentless catalyst

Maeda’s 2024-25 season was his standout at Celtic, yielding 33 goals in 51 games across all competitions. Even in the campaign just concluded, he reached double figures again—17 goals—while contributing eight assists. Over his Celtic career he has collected 38 assists, a figure that helps explain the ten pieces of silverware he has helped collect, including five league titles. His ability to stretch play, press opponents into mistakes, and arrive late into the box has made him a tactical necessity rather than a luxury. If he leaves, Celtic will need a forward who can replicate that intensity and movement, particularly in games where opponents sit deep and look to frustrate.

Callum McGregor: the heartbeat

McGregor’s importance is measured not just in trophies—he has 26 honours with Celtic—but in leadership. As captain, he carries the responsibility of marshaling a squad that has flirted with complacency in tight games, particularly in the run-in to last season’s title race. His experience in European nights and domestic finals remains irreplaceable in the short term, with his ability to dictate tempo and make crucial interventions in big moments standing out. Any exit would force O’Neill to address the void in both midfield steel and dressing-room authority, especially given the lack of a natural successor in the current squad.

O’Neill’s willingness to accept departures signals a pragmatic reset. The club’s only confirmed addition to date—Camilo Duran from Qarabag—offers little immediate comfort after a title race decided by a single point. If Engels, Maeda and McGregor all leave, the manager will have to rebuild around younger options or risk repeating last season’s late wobble, where defensive lapses and midfield congestion nearly cost them the league. The board’s willingness to sanction sales contrasts with the cautious approach of previous windows, when Celtic prioritised stability. This time, O’Neill appears ready to gamble on reshaping the squad rather than preserving it, with the pressure on Duran to justify his £3.5m price tag as a potential long-term solution up front.

What comes next is a summer of negotiation and recruitment. Fans will watch closely to see whether the incoming Duran can fill the void left by outgoing stars—or whether the club’s recent dominance will fray at the edges. The manager’s next moves, whether in the transfer market or in reshaping the squad, will define whether this reset becomes a retooling or a retrenchment.