West Ham plan to beat rivals to Arne Engels deal - Nuno 'will make promises'
West Ham United are hoping to beat rivals to the signing of Celtic star Arne Engels as they accelerate plans to bolster their squad.
The 22-year-old is widely expected to leave Celtic this summer amid growing interest from some of Europe's top clubs in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A.
However, West Ham are hopeful of stealing a march on their rivals as they aim to convince the Belgium international to swap the Scottish Premiership for the EFL Championship.
Former West Ham scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Nuno Espirito Santo will make promises to Engels to tempt him to move to the London Stadium this summer.
The midfielder will likely be offered a more regular role in the starting XI at West Ham than some of his other suitors, while they plan to achieve promotion at the first time of asking.
Nuno is aiming to bolster his midfield options following Mateus Fernandes' big-money move to Tottenham earlier this summer, having failed to land a replacement so far.
Could West Ham make a move to sign Arne Engels?
Football Insider revealed on 17 July that Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Fulham are all plotting moves to lure Engels away from Celtic in the summer transfer window.
The likes of Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta have also been linked, alongside other European clubs, but West Ham are now hopeful they can win the race.
While it will be difficult to prise him away from Celtic before other clubs beat them to a deal, the Hammers are viewing the midfielder as a leading target.
"Arne Engels is a good player and has a lot of clubs interested in him," Brown told Football Insider.
"I'm told he is somebody who West Ham have had a look at and he is very much on their radar, it's just a matter of whether or not they can beat their rivals to a deal.
"When there is interest from Premier League clubs and other clubs in Europe, it can be difficult to compete, but that's what West Ham will have to do.
"Nuno Espirito Santo will make promises about his role in the side, how may minutes he will play, and about their ambition to get promoted at the first time of asking.
"If he can sell the idea that they will be a Premier League club next season, and then achieve his goals when the season stars, then it might help him convince players.
"West Ham have the money because they've sold Fernandes for a big fee, and now they want to bring in a replacement, so signing Engels would make a lot of sense.
"They'll want to show some ambition and beating Premier League rivals to his signing would be a good show of that, it's just about whether or not they can pull it off."
How do Celtic feel about losing Engels?
Given the growing interest in Engels, his future may depend on whether or not Celtic are willing to sell, and what sort of price they are planning to demand for him.
The Hoops turned down offers worth up to £25million during the January transfer window, but with more time and money to replace him, they could lower that price tag.
Football Insider revealed on 19 July that Celtic are now prepared to accept offers for Engels, with Martin O'Neill now resigned to losing his star midfielder this summer.
The Hoops had initally hoped to keep hold of their best players this summer, including the 22-year-old, but accept it will be difficult to prevent him moving on.
That has placed a number of interested clubs, including West Ham, on high alert as they aim to get a deal done before the window closes in just over one month's time.