Martin O’Neill admits he’s facing a race against the clock to draft in a replacement for Arne Engels ahead of next week’s Champions League showdown with LASK.
The Celtic boss is pushing for midfield reinforcements after the Belgian departed for West Ham in an £22m deal with add-ons that will top £25m.
Engels departure and transfer plans
O’Neill admitted Celts could not hold on to Engels for the crunch play-off clash after seeing Alistair Johnson’s potential move to Everton sunk after the defender suffered a hamstring injury. Johnston will be out until September with the Toffees now chasing other targets.
But O’Neill is battling to bolster his side having this week snapped up playmaker Mika Baur and wide man Haissam Hassan. Celts are chasing Hajduk Split's Niko Sigur, Torino ace Gvidas Ginietas and Bosnian star Ermin Mahmic while they face loan competition for Chelsea full back Landon Emenalo. Record Sport also understands the Hoops are in the hunt for £4m rated Blackburn keeper Balazs Toth.
O'Neill's midfield priority
O’Neill admitted a midfield man is top of the list for next week following Engels’ departure. He said: “In a strong running side I would not dispute that – someone who really does go box to box and had a bit of physicality. We always felt that if Arne left – we were hoping it was not to be – but if he left we would be looking for a box to box midfield player with real physicality. And that is something we would still look at. 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 four boys in. I am hoping that will show there is more quality in the side. But we have lost Arne, and that is difficult for us at this minute to immediately replace. The overall message would be yes. Hopefully we can get one or two more in. Even if we get knocked out of the Champions League we are still in the Europa League. Those games are going to take their toll.”
Johnston injury and other targets
O’Neill admitted he couldn’t stop Engels heading to the Hammers despite wanting to hold on until after the LASK double header. He said: "Naturally disappointed that he's leaving the football club. It's hard to dissuade him of that. If it hadn't come up, I think he'd have been happy. He didn't moan about Nottingham Forest in January time. So it's an opportunity for him and it's hard for him to turn down. He's going to a really fantastic football club. Ideally, I'd have loved him to have stayed and maybe completed it after the two games. It probably wasn't going to happen. The fact that Alistair played for us when there was an offer on the table and hurt himself, things like that may disappear. Arne himself was probably worried that was going to happen.”
Canada World Cup star Johnston’s injury will rule him out of the Euro clash – but could see him remain at Celtic. O’Neill said: "He'll be out for a few weeks. By the time he's fit it'll be past the deadline. He's been very stoic about it. He played after having a very good World Cup. He got through the opening games and it's just a shame for him. It's not long-term but it's something he'll get over.”
O’Neill gave Chelsea youngster Emenalo a Lennoxtown tour on Thursday but a deal for the 18-year-old has yet to be nailed down. The Hoops boss – who is gearing up for tonight’s Premier Sports Cup clash with Dundee United – said: “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 have an interest in Toth at Blackburn with the 28-year-old heading into the final year of his contract and O’Neill wants a glove rival for Viljami Sinisalo. He said: “Goalkeeper is something we will be looking at, absolutely. We have the two lads at this minute. We have the younger boys who with the best will in the world would not be ready yet.”
