Nuno Espirito Santo has refused to be drawn on Arne Engels as speculation continues over West Ham’s interest in the Celtic midfielder.
The West Ham boss was asked about transfer targets on Friday but chose not to discuss individual players, instead making clear that the club already know where they want to strengthen.
Espirito Santo would not comment on any specific name when asked about recruitment.
He said: (West Ham YouTube), “Nils [Koppen, sports director] knows exactly the positions we have to strengthen and we are working every day. But, for the respect of the boys we have here and are working every day, I am not speaking about any players.
“For respect to the club they belong to, and with respect to the players themselves.”
That response does not offer any direct indication over Engels, but it does show West Ham are actively working on additions as the window moves on.
Espirito Santo also stressed that the club are trying to avoid rushing into deals despite the limited time remaining.
He added: “We don’t have much time, but we don’t want to make mistakes.
“It’s crucial the players who come in are right, so we are taking our time to make sure we get it right.
“We identify targets, we know the profiles and names, so we let the Club do their jobs.”
For Celtic, Engels’ future remains one of the major stories to watch over the coming days.
The midfielder has attracted interest after his time in Glasgow, but Celtic will not want to lose one of their key players unless their valuation is met.
West Ham’s manager has now made clear he will not discuss individual targets publicly, meaning any movement over Engels is likely to come through negotiations rather than media comments.
With Celtic also looking at possible midfield options of their own, Engels’ situation could have a wider impact on the club’s transfer plans before the window closes.
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