How Martin O'Neill really feels about Arne Engels exit at Celtic as West Ham twist emerges | OneFootball

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is reportedly preparing to lose midfielder Arne Engels this summer amid interest from West Ham United.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is reportedly resigned to losing West Ham United target Arne Engels this summer, but the club are determined to secure the highest possible fee for the midfielder.

Engels has been strongly linked with a move away from Celtic throughout the summer transfer window, with West Ham one of his main suitors as they prepare for life in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League.

West Ham United lining up fresh Arne Engels move as Celtic hold firm

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It has been an eventful summer for West Ham since relegation, with much of the activity at the London Stadium focused on ownership changes and player sales.

As they look to balance the books after dropping out of the top flight, the Hammers have generated significant fees for some of their stars, with midfielder Mateus Fernandes joining Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £85 million and winger Crysencio Summerville making the move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal for an initial fee of £55 million, plus a further £5 million in add-ons.

However, while West Ham have kept hold of captain Jarrod Bowen, it has been a quiet summer so far in terms of incomings, with defender Joel Veltman the only new face after arriving on a free transfer following his departure from Brighton & Hove Albion.

As they look to strengthen their squad, it appears Engels is one of the Hammers' top transfer targets, and they have had two bids rejected for the midfielder, with the second of those offers said to have been worth in the region of £20 million.

Despite Celtic rejecting their initial advances, West Ham are not willing to give up on their pursuit of Engels just yet, with the East London outfit believed to be set to return with a third bid after agreeing personal terms with the 22-year-old last week.

Martin O'Neill's stance on Arne Engels, Celtic exit revealed as West Ham United circle

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Engels joined Celtic from German outfit Augsburg in the summer of 2024 for a then club-record fee of £11 million, and he has been a mainstay in the team since his arrival.

Speaking last week, Hoops manager O'Neill confirmed that there was "definitely truth" in the reports about West Ham's interest in Engels, but he revealed that the Hammers' offer "doesn’t remotely meet our valuation".

Despite the increasing speculation over his future, Engels started Celtic's 1-0 victory over Dundee on Monday night in their Scottish Premiership opener, but it remains to be seen how much longer he will remain in Glasgow.

According to Football Insider, O'Neill is "resigned" to losing Engels this summer, but he is determined to "drive up his price tag" as the funds from his sale will be reinvested into the squad, with the 74-year-old having made no secret of his desire to bring in further new additions before the end of the window.

West Ham United must step up Arne Engels, Celtic pursuit amid Nottingham Forest threat

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It seems Celtic are willing to sell Engels this summer for the right price, so after having two opening bids turned down, West Ham must now make an offer that meets their valuation.

The Hammers are in need of midfield reinforcements after Fernandes' departure, and while they will understandably be reluctant to overpay for Engels, they will run the risk of missing out on him if the saga drags on much longer.

After having a £25 million bid rejected for Engels in January, Nottingham Forest are said to remain interested in the midfielder this summer, while fellow Premier League trio Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Fulham are also keen, along with German giants Borussia Dortmund, so West Ham