Celtic's Arne Engels set for West Ham United transfer

Celtic midfielder Arne Engels is on the verge of a transfer to West Ham United. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has confirmed that the 22-year-old is currently undergoing a medical examination with the Premier League side.

O'Neill had initially hoped to retain the Belgian international until after the upcoming Champions League play-off tie against LASK, but West Ham pushed for the deal to be completed in time for their season preparations. The manager expressed his disappointment at the departure but acknowledged the player's desire to test himself in the English top flight.

The decision was further influenced by the recent injury to teammate Alistair Johnston. The defender, who had also attracted transfer interest, suffered a leg muscle injury in the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. O'Neill noted that Engels was concerned about the risk of a similar setback potentially jeopardizing his move.

Celtic has already moved to bolster their squad, adding Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur this week. The club is also in talks to bring in 18-year-old Chelsea left-back Landon Emenalo on loan to provide cover for Kieran Tierney.