West Ham look set to make a Celtic star their first signing of the summer after he was pictured watching their final home game of the season – and he’ll be delighted with what he saw.
West Ham have been linked with three top Celtic stars ahead of the summer window opening in less than two weeks.
Graham Potter has confirmed there will be big changes at West Ham this summer after a miserable campaign.
And at least three Celtic stars have been firmly on Potter’s radar after the club appointed his Scottish recruitment guru Kyle Macaulay in January.
Macaulay, who was reunited with Potter after West Ham paid Chelsea £1.2m for his services, arrived at the London Stadium with a number of Celtic players on a list of targets for the summer window.
Three Celtic stars firmly on West Ham’s radar
Last week West Ham confirmed the midfield and forward line are the top priorities this summer in a transfer update.
Celtic’s versatile young Belgian star Arne Engels is among them.
Potter’s assistant – and Glaswegian – Billy Reid has not hidden his admiration for Engels, who can play in midfield, on the wing and at full-back.
Celtic attacker Daizen Maeda is being heavily linked with a move to West Ham too.
The £25 million-rated Japanese forward has reportedly impressed Potter and Macaulay with his own versatility, pace and eye for goal.
At 27, word is Maeda wants a crack at the Premier League and Celtic may cash in after a season where he has been in the form of his life, scoring 33 goals and laying on 10 assists in 49 games.
It was reported last week that West Ham are readying a bid to try and sign Maeda as part of Potter’s overhaul.
Young Celtic ace and Scotland star Daniel Cummings is another who has been linked with the Hammers since January.
The Bhoys’ hot prospect 19-year-old striker Cummings had looked set to sign for the Irons in the winter window.
West Ham held talks about signing Cummings both on a pre-contract agreement as a free agent and for a £500k fee in January to avoid a tribunal.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was fuming at the prospect of losing Cummings to West Ham.
Rodgers raged at Cummings’ agent over the West Ham talks.
The Celtic boss pleaded with Cummings to show patience and stay.
Rodgers even handed him his debut in the Champions League against Aston Villa to try and show him his future was at Celtic.
Celtic star pictured at West Ham with deal now imminent
Now a Celtic star has been pictured at West Ham with a deal looking imminent – and one thing will delight him.
The Hammers played their final home game of the season when they welcomed Nottingham Forest to the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Forest had to win the game to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
West Ham were going into the match off the back of a 2-0 win at Man United.
But it was Forest who emerged victorious 2-1 as a goal in either half was enough with Forest holding on despite a superb late goal from Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen.
West Ham looked toothless up front – as they have done ever since Potter was appointed.
Cummings seen at London Stadium – one thing will delight him
Watching on from the stands was a Celtic star who will be hoping he can help fix that as eagle-eyed fans spotted Cummings in the crowd.
A West Ham season ticket holder took a picture of Cummings watching the defeat along with his parents.
While Maeda and Engels were both in Celtic’s squad for their 1-1 draw with St Mirren on Saturday, Cummings was not.
It very much suggests a deal to sign Cummings is now imminent.
It was revealed back in February West Ham were luring Cummings with the promise of a first team squad place under Potter.
West Ham have announced they are releasing Danny Ings while loan flop Evan Ferguson will be returning to Brighton.
There are doubts over Niclas Fullkrug’s future after Potter made it clear to the ageing German he will not be a starter under him.
And the Hammers have yet to make a decision on whether to renew 35-year-old Michail Antonio’s contract with the forward recovering from breaking his leg in four places during his horrific car crash in December.
West Ham were typically poor throughout the defeat to Forest bar a late rally.
Cummings would have been delighted by what he saw, though.
Because the Scottish scoring sensation will feel confident he can challenge for a first team place on this evidence.
It was clear for all to see West Ham lack a striker of his ilk in their squad.
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