Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has delivered an update on both Arne Engels' move to West Ham United and Alistair Johnston's injury.
Midfielder Engels has travelled south to have a medical after a £22 million deal - an English Championship record purchase - was agreed.
After the Parkhead side signed German Mika Baur yesterday, the Belgian looks to be on his way out.
O'Neill admits it's disappointing to lose a player of his quality from his side, but it's a deal that couldn't be ignored.
"I would imagine that he's probably at this minute doing the medical," he said.
"I think West Ham wanted him to be available for the opening day of the season. Naturally disappointed that he's leaving the football club. He's done very well for us, particularly in the couple of spells that I've been here.
"And it's hard to dissuade him of that. If it hadn't come up, I think he'd have been happy. He didn't complain at all even though the offer came in very late from Nottingham Forest in January time. He never moaned about it at all. So it's an opportunity for him at the end.
"And it's really hard to turn it down, It'll be hard for him. And it's going to a fantastic football club."
The 74-year-old admits the timing of the departure isn't ideal ahead of the Champions League play-off against LASK, with the first leg next Wednesday.
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He added: "Ideally, I'd love him to have stayed and maybe completed it after the two games. It probably wasn't going to happen. A wee bit of a concern, I suppose, with the fact that Alistair Johnston played for us when there was an offer on the table and hurt himself. 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 it."
It now looks like Johnston will be staying put, despite intrest from Everton, after picking up a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined until after the transfer deadline.
O'Neill said: "He'll be out for a few weeks. By the time he's fit it'll be past the transfer deadline.
"He's been very stoic about it really. He played at a very good World Cup. He played here, did a little bit of training with us, we put him into the opening game. He got through that.
"It's just a shame for him really. It's not long term. It's something that he'll get over. And he'll be back. He's a really good player.
"Disappointment perhaps. Maybe that disappears. He'll be back and be raring to go.
"Alistair helped us out immensely in coming in and playing without a great deal of preparation beforehand after the World Cup, you get a couple of weeks break.
"It's the same for a lot of international players. But he played without complaining at all. It's just a bit of a shame. But that's football."
