Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has issued an update on the Arne Engels situation amid reports West Ham are closing in on a deal. The Bhoys are expecting to lose Engels this summer having rejected a mammoth bid for him in the last transfer window, although they were expecting to lose him to a Premier League club.
West Ham fell out of the Premier League last season, but they are armed with cash aplenty after selling Mateus Fernandes for £85million and Crysencio Summerville for £60million.
The Hammers have the money to spend, and there have been claims that Engels has agreed to join them after private conversations, but football deals are rarely agreed swiftly, and a deal to sign Engels will not be an easy one, either.
O'Neill confirms gap in Engels talks
Speaking to Sky Sports about the potential sale of Engels to West Ham, O'Neill confirmed the talks, but he also confirmed that the Hammers have a long way to go until a deal can be agreed.
“I think there’s definitely truth in that," he said. "There’s been something put in, but it doesn’t remotely meet our valuation.”
Celtic received an offer worth up to £25million from Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window, and they will almost certainly request that figure this summer. Engels is still only 22 years of age and has huge potential.
There has been talk of interest from Forest again this summer, while the likes of Sunderland and others have also been linked. There is also said to be interest from European clubs.
The Bhoys simply don't need to compromise over the fee, and it looks as if they won't, which will be a relief for fans. Losing a player like Engels is going to be a big blow, and while Celtic almost certainly won't reinvest the full fee, replacing the Belgian is not going to be cheap.
Celtic have been heavily criticised during the summer transfer window, and rightly so, but when it comes to their stance over selling Engels, hats off to them.
Engels knows the club will sell him, but they have always been clear with him that the right offer will have to be received to strike a deal. The Bhoys will also be aware of the upcoming Champions League play-off ties, and losing Engels before those games is going to have to be worth their while financially. West Ham are going to have to step it up.
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