How Tottenham and Nottingham Forest play a role in West Ham signing Arne Engels from Celtic

West Ham United are reportedly in talks with Celtic over a deal to sign Belgium midfielder Arne Engels.

Nuno Espirito Santo has been unable to add to his squad since the Hammers were relegated from the Premier League last season.

With his side's season kicking off next week with a Carabao Cup clash against Portsmouth, the urgency to get deals over the line is rising.

Mateus Fernandes, Callum Wilson, Crysencio Summerville and Callum Marshall are among those to be sold this summer, meaning Nuno has plenty of cash to spend on improving his squad.

Jarrod Bowen committing to a season in the Championship is arguably a boost that won't be topped, but talks are now reportedly underway to add Engels, 22, to the London Stadium squad before the campaign starts in just over a week.

However, West Ham aren't the first club to make their move.

The last time this happened didn't end the way many expected

Sky Sports reported via their transfer blog on Friday that West Ham are pursuing a deal for Engels, who only has two years left on his contract at Celtic Park.

While a raid on Celtic would have usually been seen as straightforward for West Ham in years gone by, their relegation to the Championship complicates things.

What's making it sound even more unrealistic right now is that in the winter transfer window earlier this year, Nottingham Forest had "multiple" bids for Engels turned down by the Bhoys.

Sky Sports claims that it's uncertain whether any Premier League clubs will rival West Ham for Engels' signature this summer.

However, there's another reason the Hammers can't relax just yet.

One key factor could change everything before the window closes

Nottingham Forest are still a threat to West Ham in the bid for Engels.

That's because the Reds were trying to sign him at the start of 2026 and are currently struggling to sign another midfield target in Lucas Bergvall.

Tottenham are proving difficult to deal with, so there's every chance that Forest turn their attentions back to Engels, as he's another young midfielder with a similar profile to Spurs' Swedish sensation.

Last season, Engels scored seven goals and supplied 10 assists in 46 appearances across all comeptitions for Celtic, who won the domestic treble under Martin O'Neill.

West Ham Zone has also already reported on the league-leading stats behind Engel's form at Celtic last term.

West Ham definitely have the spending power after banking around £150million on player sales - but will they have the selling power in terms of being able to sell themselves to a player who could stay put and compete for more titles and play in the Champions League?