Celtic close to transfer deal that could transform £30m West Ham, Arne Engels situation | OneFootball

Celtic's move for German midfielder Mika Baur could open the door for West Ham to swoop in and complete a deal for Arne Engels

West Ham United have held an interest in Belgian midfielder Arne Engels for several weeks at this stage, and with Celtic edging closer to the signing of Mika Baur from Paderborn, the Hammers could look to strike while the iron is hot.

Scottish outfit Celtic are edging closer to completing a deal worth around €8 million (£6.8 million) for Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur, according to Florian Plettenberg via X.

The Glasgow-based club are looking to reinforce their midfield department this summer, with Belgian midfielder Arne Engels having been consistently linked with a move to West Ham, as Baur's move could open the door for Engels to depart.

Celtic's Mika Baur deal could open the door for Arne Engels' West Ham United switch

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Engels, 22, has been the subject of interest from West Ham for nearly a couple of weeks at this stage, with the Hammers having been in talks with Celtic over the Belgian since the end of July.

The Bhoys knocked back a bid from Nuno Espirito Santo's side, with West Ham looking to find a replacement for Mateus Fernandes, following the Portuguese's £85 million move to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the window.

According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, the Hammers are preparing a bid in the region of £30 million including add-ons for the four-capped Belgian international, in what would be the record fee ever paid for a player by a Championship club.

Baur's move to Parkhead could signify the end of Engels' time in Glasgow, as West Ham prepare to push to get this deal over the line as Nuno's new marquee addition.

The German excelled for Paderborn in the 2. Bundesliga last season, with four goals and three assists, and will attempt to fill the void left by Engels, as West Ham circle.

Why do West Ham United want Arne Engels?

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Though Fernandes' lucrative switch to Spurs will have come as a blow for Nuno's side, his departure has provided West Ham with a mass cash injection, and a huge profit on the player they signed for less than half that fee from Southampton just 12 months ago.

Nuno can still pick from the likes of James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez, Adboulaye Kante, Soungouto Magassa, and Tomas Soucek in the middle of the park, but Engels would provide a different profile for the Portuguese head coach.

Engels, who only joined Celtic for a then club record £11 million fee from Augsburg two years ago, has gone on to make a century of appearances for the club across all competitions, including in the Champions League and Europa League.

The Belgian thrives in the final third, capable of creating chances for himself as well as his teammates, whilst his work-rate and stamina make him a nightmare for opposition to deal with.

He offers a skillset the Hammers currently lack in the middle of the park, and whilst a potential fee of £30 million may seem steep, he could be the catalyst for promotion, and hold down a place in their midfield for years to come.

Nuno Espirito Santo will be looking for further recruits at West Ham United after Arne Engels swoop

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It's taken some time, but West Ham's summer business is finally up and running.

Deals for Joel Veltman and Manor Solomon have gotten over the line, whilst the likes of Troy Parrott and Reiss Nelson are also being actively pursued by the Hammers, who will have their sights set on an immediate return to the Premier League.

Engels would become their main man in the middle of the park upon his arrival, and with more expected after the Belgian, it could yet prove to be an excellent summer for the Hammers.