Chris Sutton Slams Celtic's Decision to Sell Arne Engels

Chris Sutton has ripped into Celtic’s decision to cash in on Arne Engels now – branding it “unthinkable” as the club heads into a season-defining Champions League play-off.

The 22-year-old midfielder is on the brink of a £22million move to West Ham, with the paperwork being tied up after a record-breaking Championship fee was agreed. Engels has been a standout at Parkhead, a genuine success story in Glasgow, and his numbers back it up: seven goals and eight assists in 46 appearances across all competitions last term.

No surprise West Ham want him. The surprise, for Sutton, is Celtic letting him go this week.

Sutton fumes at Celtic timing

The former Hoops striker accepts why Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are pushing hard to get the deal done before their league campaign kicks off on Sunday. West Ham have dropped to the Championship but still carry the financial muscle and pull to move quickly for players of Engels’ calibre.

What Sutton cannot accept is Celtic weakening themselves before their Champions League play-off against LASK.

Speaking to the Daily Record, he did not hold back: “There's so much on the line, it's unthinkable to go in to this match in a weaker position – but that's what is going to happen with Engels gone.

"I get that it's big money and I understand why West Ham want him now, with the Championship kicking off this weekend.

But that's not Celtic's problem. They had to look after themselves."

For all the anger, those words double as a glowing reference. Sutton is effectively telling West Ham they are getting a player good enough to influence the biggest night of Celtic’s season.

Engels ready to hit the ground running

Once the formalities are complete, Engels will not need long to be thrown in. If West Ham can get him registered before noon on 15 August, he could make his debut against Burnley.

If that deadline is missed, Charlton on 22 August becomes the next likely opportunity, with an EFL Cup tie against Southampton on 25 August also looming as a possible first outing.

Engels arrives match-sharp. He has already gone through pre-season with Celtic and has two Scottish Premiership games under his belt, so fitness and tempo should not be an issue for the Belgian when he walks into the dressing room at the London Stadium.

For Celtic fans, that is exactly the problem. A fully firing, in-form midfielder is walking out the door just as the club faces its biggest task of the season: getting back into the Champions League proper.

Celtic weakened, West Ham strengthened

Sutton’s frustration is rooted in that simple reality. Celtic are stepping into a high-stakes tie against LASK with a key performer about to vanish from the starting XI. The financial logic is clear, but the football logic stings.

For West Ham, it underlines their clout. Even in the Championship, they can tempt a rising talent from a club chasing Europe’s elite stage, and do it on their own schedule.

Celtic lose a game-changer. West Ham gain one in time for a promotion push. The only question now is how quickly Engels can turn Sutton’s anger into West Ham’s advantage.