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Celtic would 'love' to sign Chelsea player as injury scare prompts Hoops star to grab West Ham United move A Chelsea player has been confirmed as on the Celtic transfer radar with a Hoops star bound for West Ham United. Martin O’Neill says an injury to Alistair Johnston could have come into Arne Engels’ head when choosing to join West Ham United - as Celtic eye a player at Chelsea. The Belgian international is poised to join the English Championship side from Parkhead with designs on immediate promotion back to the Premier League. It’s a blow for boss O’Neill, who’d hoped to keep him for Champions League play-off games with LASK, but a concern for right-back Johnston proved the perils of playing that game. He picked up an injury against Kilmarnock last weekend that could scupper a move to Everton in the Premier League. The boss of the Premiership champions understands if that is a factor in Engels being keen to seal a switch. Arne Engels to West Ham United latest O’Neill said: “I would imagine that he’s probably at this minute doing the medical. West Ham wanted him to be available for the opening day of the season. Naturally disappointed, really, that he’s leaving the football club, he’s done very well for us. And it’s hard to dissuade him of that. If it hadn’t come up, I think he’d have been happy. Even though the offer came in very late from Nottingham Forest in January, he never moaned about it at all. “So it’s an opportunity for him and it’s really hard for him to turn it down. Ideally, I’d love him to have stayed and maybe completed after the two games It probably wasn’t going to happen. You’ve got a concern, I suppose, with the fact that Alistair played for us when there was an offer on the table, hurt himself, maybe things like that there may disappear. I suppose Arne was probably worried the same sort of thing might happen. From a playing viewpoint, I probably can understand that.” O’Neill says he’d be keen on an incoming deal for Chelsea talent Landon Emenalo as cover for Kieran Tierney. Confirming fellow full-back Johnston would be out until September, Emenalo was given a tour of the club’s Lennoxtown training facilities earlier this week, and he’s a player on the Hoops radar with a view to a loan deal. What is the latest on Celtic signing a player from Chelsea? Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Premier Sports Cup last 16 tie with Dundee United at Tannadice, O’Neill said: “I think he’s a really fine young player. Obviously we need that position covered. 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. Alistair will be out for a few weeks. By the time he’s fit, he’ll be past the transfer deadline. He’s been very stoic about it, really. It’s a shame for him but it’s not long-term. It’s something that he’ll get over and he’ll be back.