West Ham face stumbling block in Vanaken pursuit
West Ham have hit a stumbling block in their efforts to sign highly-rated Hans Vanaken from Belgian side Club Brugge.
Hans Vanaken is supposedly highly rated by West Ham manager, David Moyes, and the Scot has made a bid of more than €15 million for the midfielder. The offer, however, has been rejected by Club Brugge who do not want to lose another star player.
One of the team’s key attackers, Jonathan David, was recently sold by Club Brugge to Lille for a much higher fee than what is on offer for Vanaken.
Last year Club Brugge sold Arnaut Danjuma, Marvelous Nakamba and Wesley to AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa for a combined fee of almost £50 million. Losing these players has meant there is more reliance on Hans Vanaken to bee the star of the team.
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Last season Vanaken did become the star of the team for Club Brugge. The five-time Belgian international scored seventeen goals and provided three assists from midfield. Vanaken has continued that form into the start of this season scoring four and assisting two goals in only seven games. The 28-year-old has contributed towards 33% of the side’s goals this term.
There is still hope in the chase for Vanaken. Club Brugge want to sign Southampton’s Wesley Hoedt on a permanent deal. The Belgian side, however, can not afford the £7.3 million asking price for the defender.
If West Ham comes back to Brugge with an improved offer, it could force them into the sale of Vanaken. The midfielder wants to play in the Premier League and reportedly would be willing to jump at a move to London.
There is room for Vanaken in the Hammers squad as the team lacks quality depth in the midfield positions, as shown in last nights League Cup defeat to Everton. West Ham did not make a single substitution whereas the Toffees showed their depth, replacing an injured Allan with Abdoulaye Doucoure.
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With only four days of the transfer window left the Hammers will have to move fast in order to get a deal across the line. On a positive note, the club could announce the arrival of SK Slavia Prague’s Vladimir Coufal today. The defender will fly in today to complete a medical ahead of a €6 million move.