Brendan Rodgers did his best to out the Celtic board, but it ended up costing him his job, as the dark clouds still hang over Parkhead.

One of the glaring issues Celtic fans have suffered with since Rodgers’ exit is the decline of the midfield, including how the powers that be have dealt with that area of the pitch in the transfer market.

Arne Engels valued at £43m after leaving Celtic

It needs to be remembered that Engels’ transfer to West Ham was a record for England’s second tier, so Celtic did well in that aspect, especially given that he was signed for £11 million under Rodgers.

It’s just how Celtic went about selling the player, and then not replacing him, which to this day is proving costly for the whole club.

Nonetheless, CIES, which is a research group that specialises in the statistical analysis of association football, values Engels as the Championship’s second highest-valued player.

Wolves’ teenage sensation Mateus Mané is valued a few million higher than the West Ham midfielder – with both teams sitting in the promotion places in the Championship after relegation last season.

How is Engels performing at West Ham United?

Right now, there is a dark cloud above Engels and West Ham’s head, but you sense that there is a bit of a Celtic theme to the Hammers’ troubles.

There have been raging debates about Celtic’s style of play under O’Neill, and the same is happening with West Ham under Nuno Espirito Santo.

What doesn’t help the cause, as Celtic found out against Falkirk, are defeats, and that’s exactly what has hit West Ham in the face in recent weeks, including losing 3-1 to West Brom at the weekend.

Engels is playing 90 minutes after 90 minutes in the Championship, but he isn’t performing as some would desire, including Frank McAvennie stating that he isn’t shining brightly.

West Ham fans have questioned Engels, and those dark clouds remain, as some, including Hammers News, question whether he is being suffocated by Nuno’s blunt and dire tactics.

• Engels’ Championship games: 12
• Starts: 12
• Goals: 0
• Assists: 3
• Key passes per game: 1.8
• Interceptions per game: 1
• Tackles per game: 1.4
• Team of the Week: 1
• Sofascore rating: 7.30