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Championship new-boys have £2m bid rejected ahead of Portsmouth contest as West Ham agree record £22m deal The latest transfer headlines involving Pompey’s Championship rivals. The new Championship campaign is here, with Pompey kick-starting the season at Fratton Park against QPR. The Blues have recruited eight new faces ahead of the curtain raiser as John Mousinho assembles his squad for their third-successive second-tier campaign. High-profile signings of Marko Milovanovic, Rocco Shein and Abu Kamara have been complimented by the arrivals of Odin Bailey, Eoin Kenny, Luke Brooke-Smith, Daniel Bielica and Benjy Arthur. Further incomings are expected in the final weeks of the window, including Chelsea starlet Ryan Kavuma-McQueen who is edging closer to his season-long loan agreement from Stamford Bridge. Elsewhere, gossip and speculation continues to ramp up as Championship clubs conduct their business ahead of this weekend’s curtain raisers. Lincoln City have £2m bid rejected Lincoln City are preparing for life back in the Championship after racing to the League One title last term. The Imps have already splashed the cash this summer, signing defender Andrei Coubis for a club-record £2.6m, while Derby’s Callum Elder arrived on a free transfer as well as the loan captures of Tanto Olaofe, Joe Gauci and Mason Meila. Their spending looks set to continue, with Tom Shaw and Chris Cohen’s side reportedly having a number of multi-million pound bids rejected for Burton Albion talent Tyrese Shade. Football Insider’s chief reporter Pete O’Rourke has claimed the Imps have had multiple offers in the £2m region knocked back by the League One outfit as interest in the 26-year-old grows. The report also states an unnamed Championship have also had a significant bid rejected by the Brewers for the versatile attacker, who netted 14 goals and collected two assists in all competitions last term. It is believed Burton’s valuation has not been met for the forward, who has one-year remaining on his current terms at the Pirelli Stadium. The St Kitts and Nevis international’s preferred position is out wide but can operate across the frontline - an area Pompey are looking to bolster following Thomas Waddingham’s fresh injury setback this week. Pompey make their first trip to Lincoln City since their League One title success in 2024 next Saturday in their opening away trip of the league campaign. West Ham finalise £22m capture West Ham are closing in on the statement signing of midfielder Arne Engels from Celtic. Sky Sports have stated the Hammers have emerged successful in their summer-long pursuit of the 22-year-old, who is expected to undergo a medical on Friday afternoon. The report claims Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have agreed a £22m deal with the Hoops for the Belgium international, which would smash the transfer record paid by a Championship club. Engels amassed 97 appearances in all competitions for Martin O’Neil’s men following his £11m switch from Augsburg in 2024. West Ham, of course, kick-started the new campaign with a 3-1 win over Mousinho’s men in the Carabao Cup last week and face Burnley on Sunday. Your next Pompey read: Portsmouth boss hopeful of transfer budget increase at window’s climax