Celtic will reportedly repeat their Alistair Johnston transfer stance with Arne Engels amid interest from down South. The Bhoys were expecting interest aplenty in Engels this summer having turned down £25million for his services back in January, but so far only one club has come to the table.
Newly relegated Championship side West Ham are that club, although their initial bids have come up short of Celtic's asking price, which is understood to be the £25million they could have got for the midfielder back in January.
Engels is only 22 years of age, and his value is only growing, with the Belgian showing how important he is in Celtic's first two games - and first two wins - of the season.
Celtic will repeat Johnston stance with Engels
Celtic were approached over right-back Alistair Johnston recently, with Everton boss David Moyes personally calling Martin O'Neill to inform him of the Toffees' interest.
Everton were around £5million short of Celtic's valuation, but the Bhoys are also said to have made it pretty clear they weren't going to sell before their all-important Champions League qualifiers, which take place on August 18 and August 25.
Celtic will bring in big money for qualifying for the Champions League, and it would not be worth their while selling Johnston, who they don't want to lose, before then, even if they do get their asking price met.
According to ExWestHamEmployee, Celtic are now taking a similar approach with Engels, telling the Hammers they want the midfielder available for those qualifiers.
Unlike with Johnston, Celtic are willing to sell Engels this summer, and the player knows his wish to seize a bigger opportunity will be granted. But having failed to sign any midfielders so far this summer, they are taking the smart approach of drawing out the transfer until late in the window, giving themselves the best chance of Champions League qualification and the best chance of finding a replacement.
In the meantime, West Ham are still going to have to find a way to meet Celtic's big valuation, or they will not be able to sign Engels at all. And they should have no trouble, having made more than £140million on the sales of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville this summer.
Clubs are not going to negotiate kindly with Celtic knowing they have £25million in their pocket once Engels is sold, so the Bhoys cannot be expected to treat a rather wealthy West Ham any differently.
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