James McFadden has urged Celtic not to repeat the mistakes of last summer, insisting the club must prioritise their Champions League ambitions over rushing through major player sales.
🗣️ “They either wait until after the Champions League, or they wait until they’ve got a replacement”
🗣️ “If Celtic do not get what they want, they won’t sell him”A discussion over Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels’ futures 💭 pic.twitter.com/qKVcu4v53F
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 3, 2026
With Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels both strongly linked with moves away from the Hoops, the former Scotland international believes Celtic should refuse to sanction either departure until suitable replacements are already in place or the Champions League play-off against LASK Linz has been negotiated.
Speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage on Monday evening, McFadden stressed there was no need for Celtic to accelerate Johnston’s exit.
He said: “I don’t think there’s any rush for Celtic to sell him. I don’t think there’s any need to rush it.
“I think they’ll either wait until after the Champions League [qualifier], or wait until they get a replacement.
“If they know that, when Alistair Johnston leaves, they can get someone in before him, then absolutely fine. If there’s not a replacement before he leaves? No. I wouldn’t.”
McFadden argued the club should have learned from last season’s transfer business, warning that going into another European qualifier without a settled squad would be a major error.
He continued: “The lessons should be there from last summer, not being prepared for this Champions League play-off.
“You cannot go in undercooked. You cannot go in underprepared. You cannot go in understrength, and try and throw a team together and say, ‘On paper, it should work’.
“It should be good enough. Make sure it’s good enough. That means, if you don’t get the right money or the right bid for Alistair Johnston – or a replacement – he can’t go. He can’t go.
“Arne Engels – the same. If you don’t get the right money or someone that can come in and play, you can’t let him go until after that game.
“You’re in a position of strength because of the contract length of both players. You own the players.
“I understand, we’ve all been in dressing rooms where players force moves and don’t act professionally. I didn’t see any hint of that from those two players tonight.
“I saw two players who were willing to go and play. You could argue sometimes with Engels trying to force a pass… That’s nothing to do with him wanting away.
“For me, this comes down to the decision of the board: when they leave. I think they’re going to leave – when do they leave?
“And if they’re not prepared for Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels leaving, they can’t let them go.
“They cannot be in the same mess that they were last season.”
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