'We are working every day' - West Ham address Arne Engels transfer interest as Celtic deliver clear stance
The Hammers have already had two bids for the Belgian international turfed out
Nuno Espirito Santo insists West Ham United will remain patient in their pursuit of several transfer targets as he addressed potential interest in Celtic midfielder Arne Engels.
The Scottish champions have reportedly booted out two bids from the EFL Championship big guns this week, but the Hammers are expected to return to the negotiating table imminently with an improved offer.
West Ham are in the market for a new central midfielder after selling Freddie Potts to Club Brugge for £10m, with that cash expected to help fund a move for 22-year-old Engels with personal terms understood to have already been agreed.
Asked about the club’s ongoing transfer business, Nuno commented: “We don’t have much time, but we don’t want to make mistakes. It’s crucial the players who come in are right, so we are taking our time to make sure we get it right.
“We identify targets, we know the profiles and names, so we let the club do their jobs.”
Pressed specifically on Engels, he added: “Nils [Koppen] knows exactly the positions we have to strengthen and we are working every day. But for the respect of the boys we have here and are working every day, I am not speaking about any players.
“For respect to the club they belong to, and with respect to the players themselves.”
Celtic provide Arne Engels future update
Celtic assistant manager Shaun Maloney provided an update on the futures of Engels and team-mate Alistair Johnston, who has been heavily linked with a move to Everton.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premiership clash against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, Maloney insisted both players remain fully committed to Celtic as interest intensifies.
“Nothing’s changed really,” he admitted. “Arne and Alistair, I know there’s been interest in the two of them over the last couple of days, but nothing’s changed.
“The two of them are training really well and it can be difficult as an individual, but they’ve been good. They’ve trained really hard. I thought they were both good against Dundee. I think we could have been a lot better in the first half as a team, but not, it can be hard for these guys, but they’re training fine.
“We’ve seen it before at this club. They have to act a certain way until obviously they’re not here, but the two of them have been really good. They haven’t indicated anything apart from they’re there for selection. I think anything deeper than that, with Martin [O’Neill] and Michael [Nicholson], it hasn’t been with me.”
West Ham want Engels on board ahead of their domestic campaign, which begins on August 16th.