West Ham transfers: Where Arne Engels move will rank among Championship record signings

Arne Engels will surely obliterate the Championship record fee if he signs for West Ham United, with a deal reportedly close.

The Hammers have emerged from nowhere in talks to sign the Celtic midfielder, who had been of major interest from Nottingham Forest.

The Tricky Trees had several bids turned down in the winter transfer window - the third of which amounted to £25million.

Celtic need to make a decision this summer with two years remaining on Engels' contract, but it is unlikely that they will accept a fee below that level.

The Hammers were relegated from the Premier League in May but have sold extremely well, with Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville leaving for a combined fee worth over £150m.

West Ham have several other sellable assets, too, with the likes of Konstantinos Mavropanos and El Hadji Malick Diouf attracting interest.

Arne Engels to become record Championship signing

Engels broke through in the Bundesliga with Augsburg before his £11m move to Celtic in 2024.

The midfielder has since become a key man for the Hoops, returning from injury for the run-in last season as they won the double.

Many would describe the Championship as a step down, but there is a certain amount of confidence that West Ham will return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

However, should a Premier League side side get involved in the negotiations, Engels will have a decision to make.

Any deal for the 22-year-old is likely to stick around the £25m mark rejected in January, which would shatter the Championship record.

Ipswich Town's £17.5m deal to sign Sindre Walle Egeli last summer currently claims the top spot, but may well be eclipsed more than once over the coming weeks.

What are the other top Championship signings?

Among the other most expensive Championship signings ever are Mike Tresor to Burnley, Ruben Neves to Wolves and Britt Assombalonga to Middlesbrough.

Of them, Neves has undoubtedly been the most successful. The midfielder cost £15.8m to sign from Porto in 2017 and would ultimately make more than 250 appearances before leaving for £47m.

The Portugal international also produced an incredibly impressive Championship season, scoring one of the best goals the league has ever seen when he volleyed in a screamer against Derby County from 30 yards out.

Should Engels get anywhere near that level, West Ham will have made an exceptional signing.