West Ham target Celtic midfielder Arne Engels in new transfer move
West Ham have made an official enquiry for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels as they look to rebuild their squad following a massive £150m transfer windfall.
The Hammers remain highly interested in the 22-year-old, although formal negotiations with the Scottish champions are not yet at an advanced stage.
The East London outfit are desperately searching for reinforcements following the £85m departure of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham earlier this month.
Defensive stalwart Edson Alvarez could also depart the capital, with European heavyweights Ajax and Real Sociedad reportedly exploring a potential deal for the Mexico international.
Midfield rebuild underway
The highly sought-after Belgium international has attracted significant attention from several clubs across the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest previously saw multiple winter bids for his services rejected by the Glasgow side before turning their attention to Tottenham Hotspur prospect Lucas Bergvall.
The versatile playmaker enjoyed a stellar campaign in Scotland last season, contributing seven goals and eight assists across 46 appearances in all competitions.
His vital performances helped Martin O’Neill’s side secure the Scottish Premiership title during a dramatic final-day decider against Hearts.
International pedigree and experience
The former Club Brugge youth product gained valuable experience in the Bundesliga with Augsburg before his move to British football.
During his time in Germany, the talented midfielder earned his senior international debut, helping his country secure a 3-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Israel in September 2024.
The London club have amassed close to £150m in player sales since their relegation to the Championship on the final day of last season.
Despite raising significant funds by offloading stars like Fernandes and selling Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville to Saudi outfit Al-Hilal, incomings have been remarkably sparse.
The only addition to the squad so far this summer has been Venezuelan winger Keiber Lamadrid, whose loan from Deportivo La Guaira was made permanent for £1m.