- Engels is set to sign for the English Championship side this weekend for a fee in the region around £22million.
- Celtic have already brought in German Under-21 internationalist Mika Baur, and are being strongly linked with Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis.
- O’Neill is also hopeful of adding cover at left-back over the coming days, with Chelsea’s Landon Emenalo being considered for a loan move.
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Martin O’Neill still hopes to land a direct replacement for Arne Engels in time for next week’s Champions League play-off — despite making Mika Baur his fourth summer signing.
Belgium international Engels was last night putting the finishing touches on a £22million move to West Ham which will see Celtic double their money on the midfielder.
Having struggled to get deals across the line earlier in the window, Celtic have now spent an initial £27m to sign Camilo Duran, Kasper Hogh, Haissem Hassan and Baur. But while O’Neill is delighted with the incomings to date, he feels that Engels’ profile hasn’t been replaced.
Gvidas Gineitis, Torino’s Lithuanian international, is believed to be on Celtic’s wanted list.
Hopeful that there will be further additions ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League play-off with Austrian side LASK, O’Neill said: ‘Mika is a really nice footballer who can break things up and manoeuvre the ball. He’s not the biggest in the world.
‘We always felt that if Arne left — and we were hoping it was not to be — we would be looking for a box-to-box midfield player with real physicality. And that is something we would still look at.
22-year-old Arne Engels is set to complete a switch to West Ham United over the coming days
‘I know the transfer window is pressing, and we are not getting everything in before these Champions League games. It would have been nice, but we are where we are. I am seriously delighted to get the boys in.’
O’Neill is also hopeful of adding cover for Kieran Tierney at left back with Chelsea’s Landon Emenalo being considered for a loan move. Celtic are also in the market for a goalkeeper.
‘I think he’s a really fine young player,’ O’Neill added of Emenalo. ‘I think that obviously we need that position covered because of Kieran.
‘Kieran did exceptionally well last season. Having been plagued with injuries at Arsenal, he came roaring back, which was great. And this young man has definitely got talent.
‘He’s got a bit of an injury at the moment. We’re hoping that that will clear up shortly. And if it does, and I think it will, I’d love to have him.’
Celtic can add two players to their squad to face the Austrians up until Tuesday evening, although Engels will create a third place when his deal is confirmed.
Asked if he expected more to come in before then, O’Neill said: ‘It would be nice. I think that we are making progress.’
Meanwhile, the Celtic boss has confirmed that Alistair Johnston faces a spell on the sidelines after aggravating the hamstring that cost him a chunk of last season.
Mika Baur has been tipped to make a big impression having made the move from Paderborn
The Canadian was the subject of interest from Everton, but that will be put on the back burner until January at the earliest.
‘He’ll be out for a few weeks,’ said the manager. ‘By the time he’s fit it will be past the transfer deadline.
‘He’s been very stoic about it really. He played at a very good World Cup. He played here, did a little bit of training with us, we put him into the opening game. He got through that.
‘It’s just a shame for him. It’s not long term. It’s something that he’ll get over. And he’ll be back. He’s a really good player.
‘Disappointment perhaps. Maybe that disappears. He’ll be back and be raring to go.’
