Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is actively seeking a midfielder to directly replace Arne Engels, who is nearing a £22 million move to West Ham United. Despite adding Mika Baur as his fourth summer signing, O'Neill expressed a desire for a player with more physicality in the midfield.
Engels, a Belgian international, is reportedly finalizing his transfer to the English Championship side this weekend. This move would see Celtic double their initial investment in the player. The club has already secured deals for Camilo Duran, Kasper Hogh, and Haissem Hassan, in addition to Baur, with a combined initial outlay of approximately £27 million.
O'Neill highlighted that while Baur is a skilled player capable of ball retention and maneuvering, he does not possess the same physical presence as Engels. The manager is still looking for a box-to-box midfielder with significant physicality to fill the void left by the Belgian's departure. He acknowledged the pressure of the approaching transfer deadline and the Champions League play-off scheduled for Wednesday against Austrian side LASK.
Torino's Lithuanian international, Gvidas Gineitis, is understood to be a target for Celtic. O'Neill also indicated a need for cover at left-back, with Chelsea's Landon Emenalo being considered for a loan move. Emenalo, described as a fine young player, is currently dealing with a minor injury that O'Neill hopes will resolve soon. The manager believes Emenalo has significant talent and would be a valuable addition, especially given Kieran Tierney's injury history and strong performance last season.
Celtic has the ability to add two players to their squad before the Champions League play-off deadline on Tuesday evening. Engels' transfer is expected to create a third available spot once confirmed. O'Neill expressed optimism about making further progress in the transfer market before the deadline.
In other team news, Alistair Johnston is facing a spell on the sidelines after aggravating a hamstring injury. The Canadian defender, who attracted interest from Everton, will be out for several weeks. O'Neill noted that Johnston's recovery period is likely to extend beyond the transfer deadline. Johnston played well in the World Cup and the opening match for Celtic, but the injury is a setback. The manager anticipates Johnston will recover and return to full fitness.