West Ham United have raised a lot of money this summer, and the Hammers are now looking to make a major statement in the market with Celtic ahead of other Premier League sides.

After selling Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville, West Ham United has largely balanced their accounts. However, they have yet to make a significant number of signings ahead of a difficult Championship season.

Their first league game against Burnley is only 16 days away, so Nuno Espirito Santo will want his team to form up as soon as possible. Given the strength at the top of the division, promotion is far from guaranteed.

West Ham United are in talks to sign Celtic’s Arne Engels.

West Ham have reached the point in the summer when key arrivals are as crucial as the exits they have already approved. They have depleted the squad’s quality in various areas, leaving fans looking for reasons to be positive again. Both the fanbase and the coaching staff might benefit from a boost before the new Championship season begins.

There was always the expectation that West Ham would be ambitious in the market. Despite being relegated, they have perhaps the strongest roster of the three clubs to have slipped into the Championship, having come much closer to survival than Wolves or Burnley, both of which had poor seasons.

That quality should make the Hammers one of the promotion favourites, but only if they keep improving. Selling key players is understandable from a financial standpoint, but replacements must arrive soon to maintain momentum and keep expectations of a rapid return to the Premier League in check.

Several Premier League clubs are apparently interested in Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, but West Ham appear to be in advanced talks with the Scottish Giants to recruit him, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. West Ham’s Engels interest was first registered in June.

The Premier League interest West Ham is beating to Arne Engels.

According to Sky Sports writer Anthony Joseph, one of the clubs West Ham are poised to beat to Engels is Nottingham Forest, which had a £25 million deal rejected during the winter window.

It is unclear whether any Premier League clubs will compete with West Ham for Engels’ signature. Forest’s primary midfield target is Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall, but they have been unable to reach a deal with the 20-year-old.

Engels, who joined Celtic from FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga, has scored 17 goals and helped 21 in 98 games, establishing himself as one of Scotland’s top midfielders.

How West Ham and Celtic fans react to Arne Engel’s interest

Numerous West Ham and Celtic fans have responded on X (previously Twitter) to the midfielder’s current transfer announcement, with Engels linked with a move away from the club over the summer.