Celtic transfer news has taken another twist after reports from Spanish outlet Marca claimed West Ham are closing in on a £25 million move for Arne Engels.
Neither club has confirmed the story.
However, if the reports prove accurate, Celtic could be about to lose another important first-team player during a summer of significant change.
Arne Engels West Ham Move Gains Momentum
Engels arrived at Celtic with a growing reputation and showed plenty of promise during his first season.
The Belgian midfielder still has huge potential.
Therefore, interest from the Premier League should not come as a surprise.
A reported £25 million fee would represent a sizeable profit on Celtic’s investment.
Financially, it would be difficult to ignore.
However, replacing a player of Engels’ quality will not be straightforward.
Martin O’Neill needs experienced players capable of helping Celtic challenge domestically while competing in Europe.
Selling key players without strong replacements carries obvious risks.
What Arne Engels West Ham Transfer Means For Celtic
Celtic have already strengthened with the arrivals of Kasper Høgh and Camilo Durán.
Those additions have excited supporters.
Even so, losing Engels would create another gap in the squad.
The recruitment team would come under immediate pressure to deliver another high-quality signing.
If Celtic accept the reported offer, supporters will expect the money to return straight into the transfer budget.
The club cannot afford to weaken at such an important stage of the season.
For now, the reports remain unconfirmed.
Until Celtic or West Ham announce an agreement, Engels remains a Celtic player.
If the move happens, though, it could become one of the biggest stories of the summer.