By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has all but confirmed that West Ham are doing everything possible to make Arne Engels available for Sunday’s Championship opener against Burnley.
The Hammers finally agreed a £22million deal with Celtic for Engels last night following a month-long pursuit of Nils Koppen’s number-one midfield target.
Speaking today, O’Neill revealed that the 22-year-old Belgian is already undergoing his medical and admitted his disappointment at losing the midfielder.
“He’s probably at this minute doing the medical. West Ham wanted him to be available for the opening day. Disappointed that he’s leaving. It’s an opportunity for him and it’s hard for him to turn down. He’s going to a really fantastic football club.”
The comments can be found via Celtic’s official website.
Engles will have his West Ham medical today
West Ham Racing The Burnley Clock
As Claret & Hugh explained earlier today, West Ham have until noon on Saturday to submit the necessary registration paperwork if Engels is to be eligible to face Burnley at Turf Moor.
Having flown down for his West Ham medical today, barring any complications, there should still be sufficient time to get everything completed.
Whether Nuno Espírito Santo would throw Engels straight into his starting XI is another matter.
The midfielder won’t have had the benefit of training with his new teammates and will barely have had time to learn everyone’s name before the trip north.
But given the creativity and progressive passing Engels should bring to West Ham’s midfield, having him available would certainly give Nuno another useful option.
First things first, though. Get the medical done and get the paperwork submitted.
The clock is ticking.
Nuno is far too cautious to put Engels straight in the side. It’s possible depending how the game plays out ,he may bring him on as a late sub.
Good luck to the lad he has done us proud at celtic
The bar has not been set too high at West Ham of late and so, although not too familiar with his style, he is young and does not seem afraid of a challenge, so this has to be a step in the right direction. Hopefully there is more to come, but for now I am looking forward to Sunday again.
I think O’Neill is talking himself up for the West Ham managers job should it become vacant. 😉
More chance of promotion than the defence minded Nuno
I still cant see the reason for Engels to move other than money or the bright lights west ham were a good club but in the last decade things have not went well they hire a staduim from london council but its not theres they are just relagated not in europe where he will come up against top teams in europe if its champions league thats the top league till Januray at least im sure he was rushed naybe he thought supporters were not appricated at Celtic theres pressure on to win a draw is not tolerated when he first came in he tried to much we were expecting more from him there more to come but its up to him but you have to handle it and at Celtic we know he will be hard to replace im just suprised of going to west ham he would get bigger and better he has to belief he can
Are you that bloke that does the horse racing commentary ?
But in reply to your wondering why he’s left Celtic, well big club as they may be, but only in a tiny back yard. He certainly will be playing much more competitive football even in the championship, but he’s being paid more, has been sold a project of getting back to the premier league playing for a London club probably on a bonus if doing so and also in front of big crowds. If all goes to plan he’s in a big shop window and could catapult himself even higher, quicker.
He’s probably realised that Celtic has done what it needs to do for him and that’s push him up another level. Thats exactly what Martin O’Neil is basically admitting too.
Well let’s hope he gets signed in time. The management team obviously think he can do a job for us. I have doubts on which I have seen personally I have doubts over his first touch. Hope I am wrong on that although he can pass a ball similar to Fernandes