How Celtic really feel about selling Arne Engels as West Ham chase deal | OneFootball

West Ham have been linked with the signing of Arne Engels

West Ham will be aiming to fight for automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt next season.

The Hammers finished 18th in the top flight table in the previous campaign, coming two points adrift of safety.

Nuno Espírito Santo has been tasked with guiding the club to a top two finish in the Championship, and the Portuguese coach previously won the second division title with Wolves in 2018.

The London outfit have yet to add a new player to the first team squad this summer, but it could be a busy final few weeks of the window, with additions likely to come.

However, sales have dominated the beginning of the transfer activity, particularly the £85 million agreement with Tottenham Hotspur for Mateus Fernandes.

West Ham have until 1 September to complete their remaining business before the market shuts.

West Ham receive Celtic transfer boost

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It has been reported by Football Insider that Celtic are open to the sale of Arne Engels amid interest from West Ham.

The Scottish giants rejected a £25 million offer for the midfielder in the January window, but are now resigned to his departure this summer.

Engels was instrumental in Martin O’Neill’s side winning the Premiership title in their tense battle with Hearts, as he contributed five goals and three assists from 30 appearances in the league.

The Belgian is the subject of interest from a number of clubs, including from the Premier League, following his standout performances for the Glasgow outfit.

It was claimed as far back as June that Engels is on West Ham’s radar, but they face stiff competition in the race for his signature.

The likes of Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Crystal Palace have all been mentioned as alternative destinations for the 22-year-old.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund are also in the mix for the Celtic star, although it’s believed that a move to England is a more attractive option at this stage.

Engels joined Celtic from Augsburg in the 2024 summer transfer window, and he has helped the club win two league titles.

The Belgian has earned a lot of plaudits during his time at Parkhead, but now a departure is looking increasingly likely, despite having a contract until June 2028.

It remains to be seen what kind of fee it will take to convince Celtic to cash in following the £25 million offer that was rejected earlier this year.

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West Ham face uphill battle to sign Arne Engels

With West Ham now competing in the Championship, the club faces an uphill battle to secure the signing of Engels against the likes of Fulham, Palace and Forest.

The option to move to Dortmund will also provide him with the opportunity to continue playing in the Champions League, making that an appealing next step.

While the Hammers are likely to be in the mix for automatic promotion, Engels will still have multiple Premier League sides chasing him this summer, and they will all be more attractive options in the immediate-term.

If West Ham want to sign Engels, they may have to go over the top with their offer in order to convince him and Celtic that they’re the right move for him.