O’Neill seeks Engels replacement as Celtic sanction £22m West Ham exit

Celtic are braced to lose Arne Engels to West Ham in a deal worth £22million, rising to more than £25million with add-ons, leaving Martin O’Neill with days to identify a replacement before next week’s Champions League play-off against Austrian champions LASK.

The Belgian midfielder’s departure comes at an awkward moment for O’Neill, who has spent the closing days of the transfer window trying to strengthen his squad for a two-legged tie that could define Celtic’s European campaign. The manager has already brought in four new faces this summer, including playmaker Mika Baur and winger Haissam Hassan, both added this week.

Johnston deal collapses as Celtic push late business

Celtic’s transfer plans were further complicated when defender Alistair Johnston’s proposed move to Everton fell through after he suffered a hamstring injury, ruling him out until September. That has left Everton looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements while Celtic must now plan without Johnston for the opening weeks of the season.

With the Engels sale all but done, O’Neill is understood to be exploring several midfield options before the window shuts. Celtic have been linked with Hajduk Split’s Niko Sigur, Torino’s Gvidas Ginietas and Bosnian international Ermin Mahmic, while also facing competition for a loan move for Chelsea full-back Landon Emenalo. The Scottish champions are also said to be tracking Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth, valued at around £4million.

O’Neill: ‘We are where we are’

Speaking about the type of player he wants to bring in before facing LASK, O’Neill made clear his priority was a physical, box-to-box midfielder in the mould of Engels.

“We always felt that if Arne left – we were hoping it was not to be – but if he left we would be looking for a box to box midfield player with real physicality,” O’Neill said. “And that is something we would still look at. I know the transfer window is pressing, and we are not getting everything in before these Champions League games.”

“It would have been nice but we are where we are. I am seriously delighted to get the four boys in. I am hoping that will show there is more quality in the side. But we have lost Arne, and that is difficult for us at this minute to immediately replace.”

The Celtic boss also insisted the club could cope even if a replacement is not signed in time, pointing to a fallback route into the Europa League should the LASK tie not go their way. “The overall message would be yes. Hopefully we can get one or two more in,” he added. “Even if we get knocked out of the Champions League we are still in the Europa League. Those games are going to take their toll.”

What it means for Celtic’s Champions League bid

Losing a player of Engels’ quality so close to a decisive European tie is a significant blow, but the fee Celtic stand to bank from West Ham gives O’Neill funds to reshape his midfield quickly. Whether any of the club’s reported targets can be registered in time for the first leg against LASK remains to be seen, with the transfer window closing imminently and Celtic’s Champions League future hanging in the balance.

Sources

• dailymail.com
• Daily Record

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.