Celtic have rejected a West Ham United approach for Belgium midfielder Arne Engels, with the Scottish club holding out for a fee in the region of £25 million. Manager Martin O'Neill confirmed the bid fell well short of the club's valuation of the 22-year-old.
West Ham are seeking midfield reinforcements following the £85 million departure of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham. Engels, who joined Celtic from Augsburg in August 2024, made 46 appearances last season with seven goals and eight assists. Celtic previously rebuffed multiple bids from Nottingham Forest during the winter window, including a £25 million offer in February.
The Hammers, who have generated close to £150 million in player sales since their relegation to the Championship, have made only one signing this summer. Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson has noted the difficulty of competing with Championship clubs for transfer targets.