West Ham United is currently in discussions with Celtic regarding the potential acquisition of midfielder Arne Engels, with Celtic seeking a transfer deal valued at approximately £25 million. The 22-year-old player has also garnered interest from several Premier League clubs, with Nottingham Forest having had multiple offers rejected during the winter transfer window's deadline day. However, West Ham, a Championship side, is presently pursuing the Belgian international, who has two years remaining on his contract.
Celtic's manager, Martin O'Neill, mentioned during a pre-match press conference that an offer had been submitted for the player but fell short of their valuation. Celtic's CEO, Michael Nicholson, had previously stated that the club's transfer activities were being hindered by competition from Championship clubs for target players.
Following the annual general meeting, where O'Neill expressed the need for reinforcements to strengthen the squad, Celtic has since completed the signing of striker Kasper Hogh for a club-record fee from Bodo/Glimt. It remains uncertain whether any Premier League teams will challenge West Ham's bid for Engels, especially considering Forest's ongoing pursuit of Lucas Bergvall, for which they have yet to reach an agreement with Spurs.