New Arne Engels twist emerges as West Ham take Celtic action | OneFootball

West Ham are in 'advanced talks' for a player of interest to numerous Premier League clubs this summer, with Celtic set to sell to the Championship...

West Ham United have raised plenty of funds this summer, with the Hammers now eyeing a big splash in the market involving Celtic ahead of other interested Premier League sides.

After selling Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville, West Ham United have somewhat balanced the books. However, they are yet to get going in a meaningful way in terms of incomings ahead of a competitive Championship season.

Their opening league game against Burnley is just 16 days away, which is why Nuno Espirito Santo will want his side to take shape as soon as possible now. Given the quality at the top end of the division, promotion is not guaranteed in the slightest.

West Ham United advance in talks to sign Celtic's Arne Engels

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West Ham have reached the stage of the summer where significant arrivals are becoming just as important as the departures they have already sanctioned. They have stripped the squad of quality in some ways and left supporters eager for reasons to be optimistic again. Both the fanbase and coaching staff could do with a lift before the new Championship season gets underway.

There was always going to be an expectation that West Ham would be ambitious in the market. Despite suffering relegation, they arguably possess the strongest squad of the three clubs to have dropped into the Championship, having come far closer to survival than either Wolves or Burnley, both of whom endured disappointing campaigns.

That quality should make the Hammers one of the promotion favourites, but only if they continue to strengthen. Selling key players is understandable from a financial perspective, yet replacements now need to arrive quickly to maintain momentum and ensure expectations of an immediate return to the Premier League remain realistic.

A number of Premier League sides are reportedly interested Celtic midfielder Arne Engels but it appears West Ham are now in advanced talks with the Scottish Giants to sign him, as reported by journalist Ben Jacobs. West Ham's Engels interest was initially registered back in June.

The Premier League interest West Ham are beating to Arne Engels

The clubs West Ham are set to beat to Engels includes a Nottingham Forest side that have had a £25 million bid rejected in the winter window, according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

He states that a number of Premier League clubs also hold an interest in the Belgium international but that West Ham are in talks for a player in the final two years of his contract.

It remains to be seen if any Premier League clubs will rival West Ham for Engels' signature. Forest's top midfield target is Spurs' Lucas Bergvall but they have been unable to strike an agreement for the 20-year-old.

Since signing from FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga, Engels has scored 17 and assisted 21 in 98 games for Celtic, becoming one of the best midfielders in Scotland ever since his arrival.

How West Ham and Celtic fans are reacting to Arne Engels interest

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Numerous West Ham and Celtic fans have reacted on X (formerly Twitter) to the latest transfer news over the midfielder, with Engels linked away from the club all summer.

Another West Ham fan stated

A Celtic supporter added: "Personally I don't think Engles is a loss (assuming we are about to replace him with Baur). For me he's flattered to deceive. Has a good pass on him but doesn't dominate games or score enough from open play. We need to replace him and then another centre mid too though."

It appears Engels is likely to head to London imminently, even if many expected that to be to the English top flight and not the Championship.